Howell-Price, Owen Glendower
Owen was born on 23 February 1890 at Kiama and was educated at Windsor Grammar School and Kogarah High School.
A bank clerk before beginning training in agriculture at the Government Experiment Farm at Nyngan, Owen served for a period in the citizen forces and on 27 August 1914 was commissioned second lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, A.I.F.
The battalion embarked from Sydney on the HMAT Euripides on the 20 October 1914 as part of the first convoy, and arrived in Egypt in December. During this time he was appointed assistant adjutant. Owen took part in the landing at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. When the adjutant was killed on the day of the landing, Owen succeeded him. He was promoted Captain on 4 August 1915.
Owen also fought at Lone Pine, where he was mentioned in dispatches and awarded the Military Cross for: '…show[ing] the greatest bravery in leading an attack against the Turkish trenches, frequently rallying his men under heavy fire and restoring order at critical moments ...'
Casualties at Lone Pine were heavy, and on 5 September he was promoted to Major and assumed temporary command of the battalion. He was wounded on 9 September but remained on duty on the peninsula until the evacuation was complete.
Having revealed his ability as a fine trainer and organiser, Owen was confirmed in rank on 1 December. For a short period in Egypt after the Gallipoli evacuation, he was temporarily superseded in command.
The 3rd Battalion arrived in France on 28 March 1916 and Owen was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel on 12 May. In July and August, the battalion fought bloody battles at Pozières and Mouquet Farm, during which time Howell-Price set a magnificent example of courage, always visiting the most forward positions. For his leadership he was awarded the D.S.O. and mentioned in dispatches for a second time.
On 3 November 1916, near Flers, he was shot in the head and he died next day. He was 26 years old. Owen's final words were, reportedly, ‘Give my love to the battalion’. A commemorative service was held at Flesselles, attended by the whole unit.
Owen Glendower Howell-Price is buried in Heilly Station Cemetery in Picardie, France
Two of Owen's brothers were also killed during the First World War: Major Phillip Llewellyn Howell-Price of 1st Battalion died in October 1917, aged 23, and 2nd Lieutenant Richmond Gordon Howell-Price died in May 1917, aged 20.