Stanford Rivers – Comyns Owers [49346]

[49346] Private in the Machine Gun Corps. He had formerly
served in the Essex Regiment Territorial Force as [2565].

He enlisted at Brentwood on 10 November 1914, aged just 17. On 4 April 1915
he was discharged from the Essex Regiment and joined the Machine Gun Corps.

He was killed on 15 November 1917 in Mesopotamia and is buried at
Al Basrah, Iraq.

At the time of his enlistment, his address was given as Cloverley Road, Ongar.

He was born in 1897 at Stanford Rivers, the son of Comyns and Margaret Owers.
At the time of the 1911 Census, the family were living at Rose Cottage,
Toot Hill. His father’s occupation was recorded as a journeyman baker.

In the 1881 Census, a John Owers, born in 1832, was described as a baker and
licensee living at the Green Man Public House, Toot Hill. He was also listed
as a farmer with 10 acres, employing three men. He had a son, Comyns Owers,
born in 1862, who was described in the census as a “Baker’s Son”.

In the 1891 Census, Comyns Owers was married to Margaret and living in
High Street, Chipping Ongar, where he was the licensee of the Bell Inn.
He had one child and employed three servants.

In the 1901 Census, Comyns and his wife were living at Stanford Rivers,
and he was described as a baker. They had three more children, including a son,
Comyns, born in 1887 in Stanford Rivers.

Comyns remained as the licensee of the Green Man until about 1910.
By 1912, a Mrs Emma Comyns is shown as the licensee.

In the churchyard at St Margaret’s is a gravestone bearing the following
inscription:

In loving memory of
Margaret Elizabeth Owers
Who died April 17th 1928
In her 63rd year

Also of
Comyns Owers
Missing in Egypt Nov 25th 1917
Aged 21 years

Also Comyns
Husband of the above
Who died Sep 28th 1939
Aged 78 years.

The date recorded on the gravestone, 25 November 1917, differs from the
official record, which states that he was killed on 15 November 1917.

He is commemorated on the war memorial at High Ongar.

Letter dated 1924 on his Army file

1 Prospect Villas,
Marden Ash, Ongar,
11/2/1924

Dear Sir

Re your letter of Feby. Yes we have received Plaque, Scroll and Medals,
of our dear son, for which I sent receipts at the time of receiving same.
Thanking you for your kind enquiry.

I am dear Sir
Yours Respectfully
C. Owers.

The letter from the War Office had been sent to Mr C. Owers,
39 Toronto Road, Leytonstone.

His name also appears on the War Memorial at High Ongar.