| Owen | Edward Roderic | | Captain | OWEN, EDWARD RODERIC, Major, was born on 4 May 1856, at The Hewletts, Prestbury, Gloucestershire, where his father then resided, son of Hugh Darby Owen of Bettws Hall, Montgomeryshire, North Wales, and of Mrs Hugh Owen. 'Roddy' Owen was educated at a private school at Malvern, and at Eton (1869-73), and for a year with a tutor, during which time he began his riding career by winning the Duke of Beaufort's Blue Coat Race at Dauntsey on Mr E Chaplin's Holland. He entered the Army through the Militia, receiving on the 3rd March 1875, a commission in the 2nd Battalion South Devon Infantry Militia (11th Foot). On the 11th September 1876, he was transferred to the 1st Battalion of the 20th (East Devonshire) Regiment, which, in 1881, became known as the Lancashire Fusiliers. He joined his new regiment at Halifax, Nova Scotia. He shot in the Rocky Mountains; came home on leave in 1878; kept a few horses (which were trained by his elder brother Hugh at Cirencester), and rode some races. In 1879 his regiment was stationed at Malta, and in 1881 Roddy hunted to his heart's content, and won many important races. In 1883 he was stationed at Mhow in India, and in March 1884, was attached to the Staff of the Viceroy, Lord Ripon, as Extra ADC. He became well known on all the race-courses in Bengal. In August 1884, at the age of 28, he was promoted to Captain, and returned to Ireland, where he migrated from the staff of Lord Ripon to that of Lord Spencer, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He won the great Sandown Steeplechase in 1884, and in two successive years he rode the winning mount in the Sandown Grand Prize. Twice he won the great Sandown Steeple-chase on the same horse, Kilworth. In 1899 he had the highest average of wins among gentlemen riders for the year. In 1889 and 1900 he was ADC to General Sir Evelyn Wood at Aldershot. In 1891 he was selected for the Mounted Infantry Regiment at Aldershot, which had been raised and was then commanded by Colonel Hutton. In 1892 he steered Father O'Flynn to victory in the Grand National, and directly after the race he took the train to London, applied at the War Office for active service, and served as Chief of the Staff to General Sir Francis Scott, Inspector-General of the Gold Coast Constabulary; commanded the expedition against Zebus in West Africa, and left England for Lagos. In 1892 he served with Sir Gerald Portal's Mission in Uganda. He was chosen as Commandant of the Equatorial Provinces of Torn and Unyoro, 1893-94, during which time he quelled single-handed a Moslem revolt of a critical nature. He was then entrusted with the important mission of planting the British flag under circumstances of extreme difficulty at Wadelai, thus safeguarding the upper reaches of the Nile for Great Britain. He received the African Medal, 1892, the Brilliant Star of Zanzibar, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 4 January 1895]: "In recognition of services against the Zebus in 1892, and during the recent operations in Central Africa, Edward Roderic Owen, Captain and Brevet Major, The Lancashire Fusiliers". The Insignia were presented 3 September 1895. In the summer of 1894 he was home on leave, and in January 1905, sailed for India to join his regiment at Quetta. He became Official Correspondent of the 'Westminster Gazette' during the North-West Frontier Campaign, and being attached to the King's Own Scottish Borderers, took part in their well-known charge. He and Colonel Sir Younghusband were the first to enter the Fort of Chitral, after a forty-mile ride in a hostile country, in advance of the Relief Force. Major Owen travelled in the Pamirs; joined the Sudan Expedition, receiving the Medal and the Firket Medal. In the endeavour to stamp out cholera at Arnbigol Wells, where he was Commandant, he contracted illness and died there. The Arabs, who loved him, placed circles of white stones round his grave. A Memoir of him has been written by his sister, Lady Owen-Mackenzie.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Lancashire Fusiliers |
