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to view a picture of the person37.
Bertie Newman Thomas OWERS was born on 6 Feb 1888 in South
Weald, Essex. He served in the military between 1914 and 1919 in
France. On 22nd December 1914 Bertie went overseas with the 1/2nd
Home Counties Division, more properly called the 27th Division. He was 26 years
old.
Bertie was in the Royal Army Medical Corps (TF).
When the Territorial Force was renumbered in 1916 to 1917 the number range allocated
to RAMC personnel in 27th Division Field Ambulance service was 495001 to 497000.
Bertie’s number was 495192 TF.
A Field Ambulance was an organisational unit composed of 10 officers and 224
men (not a vehicle!). Each Infantry Division had 3 Field Ambulances, each of
which was divided into 3 Sections.
The Field Ambulance played a critical role as it received men soon after they
had received their wound. If a soldier could not be treated at a Regimental Aid
Post (a small and often temporary position near the front lines) the Field Ambulance
would attempt to treat him, or just do enough so that he could be passed back
to the Casualty Clearing Station (CCS).
The Field Ambulance was responsible for a number of points along the evacuation
chain for the casualty, from the Bearer Relay Posts up to 600 yards behind the
Regimental aid Posts, through the Advanced Dressing Station (ADS) to the Main
Dressing Station (MDS). The Ambulances would usually establish 1 ADS per Brigade
and 1 MDS for the Division.
Field Ambulances saw the full horror of war casualties.
On 1st November 1918 Bertie was mentioned in despatches for gallant and distinguished
services in the field and received a certificate, in due course, signed by Winston
Churchill.
He was 495192 Corporal (acting sergeant) and was 2nd (HC) Field Ambulance.
His service medal index card shows the number 2747 Bertie Owens. He was awarded
the 1914-15 Star and the British War and Victory Medals. (An oak leaf emblem
denoted the mention in despatches)
He was discharged, at the rank of Sergeant, on 29th June 1919. The fact that
he was not awarded a Silver War Badge coupled with the very late discharge date
almost certainly means that he was medically “A1” at discharge.
Unfortunately no service record survives. They were in the National archives
(PRO) film references (burned series) WO363/0288. In 1920 he was a Draper Salesman
(ex-Army) in Canterbury, Kent. In 1925 he was a Hotel Proprietor
in Northwick Hotel, Evesham, Worcestershire. Between 1930 and 1950
he was a Tobacconist and Confectioner in Wimbledon, Surrey. He died
of coronary thrombosis and atheroma on 17 Aug 1952 in Carshalton, Surrey.
Bertie
Newman Thomas OWERS and Frances Mary TANNER were married on 2 Apr 1917 in Walthamstow,
Essex.
Frances Mary
TANNER (daughter of Albert TANNER and Martha Anna Pile SKINNER) was born
on 3 Apr 1887 in Bowling Green, Sway, Boldre, Hampshire. She was
christened on 5 Jun 1887 in Sway, Boldre, Hampshire. She died of
congestive heart failure, ischaemic heart disease and bilateral strokes on 2
Jul 1969 in 2 Blackheath Park, Blackheath, London. She was cremated
in Jul 1969 in Eltham Crematorium, London. Bertie Newman Thomas OWERS
and Frances Mary TANNER had the following children:
+50 | i. | Raymond OWERS. |
+51 | ii. | Joan OWERS. |
