William Taylor OWEN

William Taylor OWEN Update Details

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OWEN, William Taylor

Service Number:	VX45223
Enlisted:	8 July 1940
Last Rank:	Lieutenant Colonel
Last Unit:	39th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Nagambie Victoria Australia , 27 May 1905
Home Town:	Leongatha, South Gippsland, Victoria
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Bank Officer
Died:	Killed in Action, Kokoda Papua, 29 July 1942, aged 37 years
Cemetery:	Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea Plot C. Row E. Grave 4. Local Roll of Honour- Leongatha Victoria Australia
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939:	Involvement VX45223
8 Jul 1940:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant Colonel, VX45223, 39 Infantry Battalion AMF
8 Jul 1940:	Promoted Major, 22 Infantry Battalion AMF
8 Jul 1940:	Enlisted Major, VX45223, 22nd Infantry Battalion
6 Jun 1942:	Involvement Lieutenant Colonel, VX45223, 39 Infantry Battalion AMF, Kokoda - Papua
6 Jun 1942:	Promoted Lieutenant Colonel, 39th Infantry Battalion
28 Jul 1942:	Wounded Lieutenant Colonel, VX45223, 39th Infantry Battalion, Kokoda - Papua, Died later of wounds at ‘Graham’s House’

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Biography contributed by Graham Padget

Lieutenant Colonel William Taylor Owen was the son of William and Ida Owen, husband of Daisy Owen.

Distinguished Service Cross (American) Posthumous Award: For extraordinary heroism in action near Kokoda New Guinea on July 27, 1942.

While commanding an infantry battalion which was opposing the enemy advance, Lieutenant Colonel Owen, although facing far superior numbers of enemy troops, directed his men so effectively as to exact a heavy toll of the enemy forces and considerably delay their advance.

His courageous and inspiring personal example was in great measure responsible for this vigorous opposition to the enemy attack.

Lieutenant Colonel Owen was seriously wounded in this action and later died of his wounds.

_{[extract from NAA Service Records (Army)]}

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