MR GEORGE 'TED' OWENS
41 ROYAL MARINES COMMANDO
PLYMOUTH DIVISION
PLY/X 111420
Ted Owens has an extraordinary story and is a true inspiration to us all, He began the war as a messenger boy in his hometown of Pembroke Dock, before becoming a Royal Marine Commando.
Royal Marine Commando George "Ted" Owens was 19 on 6 June 1944 when he landed on Sword Beach, in France.
He was in the first wave of men ashore alongside Lord Lovat. He took cover behind a damaged Churchill tank to return fire but a mortar round hit the vehicle and shrapnel blew him to the ground. his colleagues thought he had been killed until two stretcher bearers turned him over and he moved his eyes.
He was immediately evacuated and spent two and a half months in hospital in Caerphilly with shoulder, back and chest wounds.
Once he was discharged he was involved in the Battle of 'Walcheren Island', in the Netherlands, where he was injured after a colleague in his patrol stood on a German mine, one of the shrapnel ball bearings tore through his knee.
When Ted was fit enough to walk he went straight back into service and joined the Battle of the Bulge, in the Ardennes region, where a piece of shrapnel flew through his neck and windpipe; But this did not stop RM Owens.
Ted regularly attends events in his regimental blazer and beret, and often spends time with the group. His friendship is extremely valuable to us all, but he also provides first hand information on our kit/uniform and always has advice.
In 2013 one of our members, pictured above alongside Ted, presented Mr Owens with the three wound stripes he would have worn on his battledress, so that he could wear them on his blazer with pride.
41 ROYAL MARINES COMMANDO
PLYMOUTH DIVISION
PLY/X 111420
Ted Owens has an extraordinary story and is a true inspiration to us all, He began the war as a messenger boy in his hometown of Pembroke Dock, before becoming a Royal Marine Commando.
Royal Marine Commando George "Ted" Owens was 19 on 6 June 1944 when he landed on Sword Beach, in France.
He was in the first wave of men ashore alongside Lord Lovat. He took cover behind a damaged Churchill tank to return fire but a mortar round hit the vehicle and shrapnel blew him to the ground. his colleagues thought he had been killed until two stretcher bearers turned him over and he moved his eyes.
He was immediately evacuated and spent two and a half months in hospital in Caerphilly with shoulder, back and chest wounds.
Once he was discharged he was involved in the Battle of 'Walcheren Island', in the Netherlands, where he was injured after a colleague in his patrol stood on a German mine, one of the shrapnel ball bearings tore through his knee.
When Ted was fit enough to walk he went straight back into service and joined the Battle of the Bulge, in the Ardennes region, where a piece of shrapnel flew through his neck and windpipe; But this did not stop RM Owens.
Ted regularly attends events in his regimental blazer and beret, and often spends time with the group. His friendship is extremely valuable to us all, but he also provides first hand information on our kit/uniform and always has advice.
In 2013 one of our members, pictured above alongside Ted, presented Mr Owens with the three wound stripes he would have worn on his battledress, so that he could wear them on his blazer with pride.