James Owens (VC)
{{Short description|Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox military person
|name=James Owens
|honorific_suffix=
|birth_date= {{Birth year|1827}}
|death_date= {{death date and age|1901|8|20|1827|||df=yes}}
|birth_place= Bailieborough, County Cavan
|placeofburial=Lorne Road Cemetery, Brentwood
|image= James Owens (1827–1901).png
|image_size=
|caption=
|nickname=
|allegiance={{flag|United Kingdom}}
|serviceyears=
|rank=Sergeant
|branch={{army|United Kingdom}}
|commands=
|unit=49th Regiment of Foot
|battles=Crimean War
|awards= Victoria Cross
|laterwork=
}}
James Owens VC (1827 – 20 August 1901) was born in Killaine, Bailieborough, County Cavan and was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Details
He was about 27 years old, and a corporal in the 49th Regiment of Foot (later The Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales's)), British Army during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 30 October 1854 at Sebastopol, in the Crimean Peninsula, Corporal Owens greatly distinguished himself in a personal encounter with the Russians, and gave assistance to a lieutenant of his regiment.{{London Gazette |issue=21971 |date=24 February 1857 |page=660 }}
He later achieved the rank of Sergeant. He died Romford, Essex, 20 August 1901.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Rifles (Berkshire and Wiltshire) Museum (Salisbury, Wiltshire, England).
References
{{Reflist}}
Listed in order of publication year
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
- {{cite journal|first=Brian D. H.|last=Clarke|title=A register of awards to Irish-born officers and men|journal=The Irish Sword|volume=XVI|issue=64|pages=185–287|year=1986}}
- Ireland's VCs {{ISBN|1-899243-00-3}} (Dept of Economic Development, 1995)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
- [http://www.newulsterbiography.co.uk/index.php/home/viewPerson/1977 Dictionary of Ulster Biography]
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20041028141716/http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/essex.htm Location of grave and VC medal] (Essex)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Owens, James}}
Category:Crimean War recipients of the Victoria Cross
Category:Irish recipients of the Victoria Cross
Category:British Army personnel of the Crimean War
Category:Royal Berkshire Regiment soldiers
Category:People from Bailieborough
Category:19th-century Irish people
Category:Irish soldiers in the British Army
Category:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross