Biography:
Lumley Owen Williames Jones was born 1 December 1876, the youngest son of Richard Edward Jones J.P., D.L., of Cefn-Bryntalch, County Montgomery, and Catherine, daughter of John Buckley Williames.
He came to Winchester College from Mr JH Wilkinson's school at Clifton in May 1890 and was in A House, Chernocke House. His brother Edward Whitmore Jones also briefly attended Winchester (A 1882). Owen was second captain of OTH VI in 1894, and he played in Lords XI in the same year.
He left Winchester in March 1895 and was 2nd Lt in the 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment in 1897. He served in the South African war and was promoted to Captain in 1905, and then served with the West African Frontier Force from 1904. In 1912, he was appointed Adjutant and left for France with them at the beginning of the war.
Owen fought through all the earlier actions, receiving the Legion of Honour for his services, and shortly before the Second Battle of Ypres was appointed to the command of the battalion. They played a particularly gallant part there, and were mentioned in one of Lord French's Despatches as having twice saved the line, acting on their own initiative. Lieutenant Colonel Jones was afterwards promoted to the temporary rank of Brigadier General and placed in charge of the 13th Infantry Brigade, which had a conspicuous share in the successful attack on Vimy Ridge. Late in 1917, the Brigade was ordered south to reinforce the Italians although they were back in time for the great German Offensive of March 1918 and were in line west of Merville. In August 1918 they formed part of the force advancing on Bapaume.
Early in September 1918, Owen was taken ill with influenza, followed by pneumonia and died on 14 September 1918 at a casualty clearing station in Bagneux. He is commemorated on the War Memorial and Roll of Honour at Silsoe Parish Church in Bedfordshire.
Owen held the brevet rank of Colonel and the Order of SS. Maurizio e Lazzaro and was seven times mentioned in Despatches. His work with the 13th Brigade won him a wide reputation as a fighting commander.