Basil Wilberforce Longmore Owen

Commander (retired) Basil Wilberforce Longmore Owen, M.V.O. (23 May, 1886 – 2 July, 1943) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

The son of a Reverend Canon from Mansfield, Owen gained two months' tie on passing out of Britannia on 15 September 1902.

Owen was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 October, 1908.

While serving in Euryalus, Owen provided services in the aftermath of the Messina Earthquake in late 1908. He would receive a Messina Earthquake Medal in 1912 for this.

Owen was appointed in command of the destroyer Stour on 18 April, 1914.

He married Evelyn Mary Taylor on 6 July 1914.

On 9 October 1915, Vixen struck her propeller on a submerged wall in Blyth Harbour, and Owen was cautioned to be more careful in future.

Owen was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 1 October, 1916.

On 17 July 1917, Owen damaged Onslaught's propeller and was again cautioned. On 26 October, he was granted sick leave. He was found fit, but only for shore service on 5 January, 1918. He worked at Haulbowline yard and provided navigation services while he convalesced. On 29 June he was found to be ready once more for sea service. On 16 July, he was appointed in command of the destroyer Mameluke.

He was appointed in command of the destroyer Sirdar on 10 August, 1918.

Post-War

On 1 September, 1919, Owen was appointed in command of the destroyer Wanderer.

Owen was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Commander on 7 February, 1927.

Owen spent some time on "Special Service" on the books of H.M.S. President during 1933. He was appointed as Mobilising Officer for the Template:RNR's Patrol Service in 1934 and earmarked as one who would receive a War Appointment in 1937.

World War II

Owen spent three weeks on a Boom Defence Course in early 1938 with three additional weeks of practical training in the work at Harwich in May of 1939. In November, he was placed in charge of Boom Defence at the Depot at Harwich. He kept at the post with the acting rank of Commander until being deemed medically unfit on 29 April, 1941 owing to heart ailments.

Owen would succumb to heart problems in July 1943.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by William R. Heilbroun	Captain of H.M. T.B. 027 Mar, 1911 – 5 Mar, 1912	Succeeded by Michael Carey
Preceded by Ralph M. Mack	Captain of H.M.S. Stour 18 Apr, 1914 – 17 Jan, 1915	Succeeded by Joseph B. Newill
Preceded by John A. Gregory	Captain of H.M.S. Vixen 17 Jan, 1915 – 26 Oct, 1915	Succeeded by George L. M. Napier
Preceded by Eric Q. Carter	Captain of H.M.S. Ruby late 1915 – 8 Jun, 1916	Succeeded by John B. Spurgin
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Nessus 29 Oct, 1915 – c. Nov, 1915	Succeeded by Eric Q. Carter
Preceded by Arthur G. Onslow	Captain of H.M.S. Onslaught 8 Jun, 1916 – 26 Oct, 1917	Succeeded by John O. Barron
Preceded by William A. C. Salmond	Captain of H.M.S. Mameluke 16 Jul, 1918 – 10 Aug, 1918	Succeeded by John M. Smith
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Sirdar 10 Aug, 1918 – 3 Feb, 1919	Succeeded by Ernald G. H. Master
Preceded by Ernald G. H. Master	Captain of H.M.S. Tactician 3 Feb, 1919 – 1 Sep, 1919	Succeeded by Hamilton E. Snepp
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Wanderer 1 Sep, 1919 – 15 Dec, 1921	Succeeded by Ernest R. Archer