Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Arthur William and Isabel Clara Tooth, of Union Club, Sydney, New South Wales.

OWEN WILLIAM TOOTH (7.1.1890 -3.12.1917)
From Sydney. His father was Arthur W. Tooth.
At TAS nearly 3 years from July 1903 to 1907. Prefect. 1st Football XV and Colours, Captain 1st Cricket XI and Colours, 1st Tennis IV, Shooting Team, Armidalian Committee, Choir, Winner of Rawson  Cup. After leaving school he went to Wagga Agricultural College until May 1909 and then to "Abington" for experience until December 1910. Then he purchased a small grazing property in the district  called "Gwydir Served in the 6th Australian Light Horse as Lieut. He served at Gallipoli and remained there for many months continuous service in the trenches. He was sent back to Egypt. Though  unwounded he was suffering considerably from strain. His brother Neville was wounded in the eye by shrapnel and he returned to Australia. Owen wrote from Palestine "The tent I am writing in  Y.M.C.A. - is within a mile of our front line, and has a piano in it. Lime juice In the day and cocoa at night is free for all. There is a concert tonight. We had some good games of football in the winter.  Sometimes I got a game but it took me too long to get into trim; and the heavy sand didn't help matters. I was in hospital for a few days with Major Dangar, who has now rejoined his Regiment." He was in the Romani fight and just before that he  wrote describing the difficulties and hardships of the reconnoitring "The heat was usually well over 100. One day it was 124; we had been going all night, and had hardly any water. Many of the fellows  "went out" to it. The horses suffered severely." 
Killed in action in Palestine aged 27 and buried some 300 yards from where he was killed.
Lieut. E.W. Pearce wrote "At present I am doing a three weeks course in Intelligence Work at the seaside. The weather is gorgeous, so am thoroughly enjoying the change. Whilst going for a ride a few  days ago, I ran across a lonely grave and looking at the Inscription, saw it was Owen Tooth's. He was killed quite near us by a shell. What a fine fellow he was". Obituary- Lieut. Stewart Menzies, an Old Boy in a letter from Egypt: "We shall all miss Owen; he was well liked and, apart from his regimental duties, he was a keen sportsman, and did a lot of good organising and in helping the men in their  leisure time."
Memorial — His name is on the fountain in Armidale Central Park and in the Armidale Library. Solomon Wiseman, TAS Chaplain, gave a gold chalice and paten to TAS Chapel in memory of Owen Tooth  and Fred Forster.
Brother - His younger brother Arthur Tooth was also at TAS and also served at Gallipoli. He was a Lance-Corp. with the 17th Battalion and was wounded at Quinn's Post and was demobilized 26.7.1916 and went to Walgett a Grazier.