Owen, Griffith John
495 Private Griffith John Owen - 28th Battalion AIF
Griffith John Owen was born on the 24th February 1893 in Williamstown Victoria to Griffith and Catherine Owen. He had four siblings Minerva (1884), Ethel (1885), David (1889) and William (1891). The family came across to Western Australia while William was still young and took up residence at 56 King Street East Fremantle (Now called 26 King Street). His father Griffith Owen (snr) was involved in the construction of Fremantle Harbour.
Griffith (jnr) was educated locally and after leaving school he took up work as a Grocer.
On the 4th March 1915 Griffith enlisted into the AIF. He was accepted as fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 5 inches;
Weight - 128lbs;
Chest Measurement - 33-34 inches;
Complexion - Dark;
Eyes - Grey;
Hair - Dark Brown.
After his successful enlistment, Griffith was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.11 Depot Company. He spent over a month in this camp being taken through the basics of infantry work. On the 16th April 1915 he was then assigned to "C" Company of the newly forming 28th Battalion.
This group trained in WA until they embarked from Fremantle aboard the H.M.A.T. “Ascanius” on the 29th June 1915. After their arrival in Egypt in late July they were given further training and were soon told to prepare to head for Gallipoli.
On the 4th September 1915 the Battalion embarked from Egypt and made their way to the peninsula. After the 28th Battalion arrived at Anzac they were sent to part of the newly captured territory to hold the new trenches around positions such as the Apex. The 28th were not involved in any major actions on Gallipoli but still had a steady stream of casualties.
Griffith had a close shave with being killed when a Turkish bullet hit the bible he was carrying in his top pocket. (Article below from Camp Chronicle published 20th September 1917)
Griffith escaped that incident unscratched, however he couldn't avoid the illness that was prevalent in Gallipoli now that the temperatures had started to plummet. On the 18th October 1915 Griffith was sent to the 7th Field Ambulance suffering from influenza. After four days his condition had not improved so was sent on to the 16th Casualty Clearing Station. His condition continued to deteriorate, and the decision was made to evacuate Griffith to Hospital.
On the 23rd October 1915 Griffith left Gallipoli aboard a hospital ship which took him to England. Upon arrival at Southampton he was admitted to University Hospital. As well as the influenza, Griffith was also found to be suffering from enteritis.
Griffith remained at University Hospital for the next several weeks. On the 23rd January 1916 he was transferred to the 2nd General Hospital at Manchester. Griffith was in hospital in Manchester for the next few months. He was then transferred to a base camp before being sent to the 7th Training Battalion at Perham Downs at Salisbury.
While was in England, the sad news came through that his father, Griffith had died in Fremantle in May 1916.
On the 9th August 1916 Griffith left the 7th Training Battalion camp and proceeded over the Channel for France. After arriving at Etaples, Griffith was marched into the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot. He was officially taken on strength on the 24th August 1916. Griffith had just rejoined the 28th Battalion after their actions at Pozieres on the Battle of the Somme and there would have been many familiar faces missing when he rejoined.
A week after rejoining, Griffith was sent to hospital for Dentistry work. He was away from the unit for a month, rejoining them on the 30th September 1916.
The 28th Battalion was in Belgium when Griffith rejoined his unit but they soon returned to the Somme battlefield. It was not yet officially winter when the 28th Battalion arrived at the Somme in October 1916 but conditions were already freezing.
On the 26th October Griffith was evacuated suffering from influenza. After being initially treated at the 7th Field Ambulance he was sent to the 1st South African Hospital. On the 22nd November 1916 Griffith was sent to No.5 Convalescent Camp at Cayeaux. He had a few days there before being returned to the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot.
Griffith spent the next five weeks at the base depot camp, eventually returning to the 28th Battalion on the 9th January 1917.
When he rejoined the 28th Battalion, they were still situated on the Somme battlefield near Le Sars.
In March 1917 the Germans began withdrawing to their pre-prepared defensive position known as the Hindenburg Line. The Australian and British troops attacked the Germans and several sharp actions were fought around what was known as the Hindenburg Line Oupost villages. On the 26th March 1917 the 28th Battalion were involved in the capture of Lagnicourt and the Germans fought hard to retain the village. Casualties were heavy and Griffith was wounded during the capture of the village.
He had been wounded in the eye and was taken for treatment to the 5th Field Ambulance. His wounds were initially treated there before being sent to the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station. After more treatment there he was sent on an Ambulance Train to No.12 General Hospital at Rouen, arriving there on the 30th March. The same day he was transferred to the 5th General Hospital.
Griffith spent the next three weeks in this hospital, then on the 20th April 1917 he was transferred to England. Upon his arrival, Griffith was sent to the 1st Southern General Hospital in Birmingham. He spent the next five months here undergoing treatment, though despite their best efforts, the doctors were unable to save Griffith's right eye.
On the 25th September 1917 Griffith was transferred to the 2nd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Southall. He spent a month there and on the 25th October 1917 was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield.
Griffith spent the next several weeks here but on the 22nd December 1917 was granted a two week furlough so he was able to spent Christmas and New Year away from hospital.
After reporting back from leave on the 5th January 1918, Griffith was sent to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth. He was now waiting to be assigned a berth on a ship home.
On the 15th February 1918 Griffith boarded the hospital ship Llanstephen Castle and set sail for Western Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 8th April 1918.
Griffith was then sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle for a complete medical checkup. Due to the loss of his right eye, Griffith was granted a military pension.
Griffith was discharged from the AIF on the 17th September 1918.
After returning from the war Griffith returned home to Kings Street and resumed his role as a Grocer.
In 1919 Griffith married Sarah Jones in Fremantle and a son Raymond John Owen was born in 1920.
In the early 1920's the family then moved to 70 King Street (Now 32 King Street) East Fremantle up to 1943 when they moved to 43 King Street, however he was soon living at 34 King Street. Griffith was now working as a postal assistant.
Griffith remained living at 34 King Street up till the 1970's.
In 1967 Griffith wrote to the Army authorities to claim his Gallipoli medallion.
Griffith died in East Fremantle on the 16th October 1977 aged 84. He was buried at Fremantle Cemetery plot Anglican MON A2 0208.