Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.S.O. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel D. C. Owen, Middlesex Regiment, who was three times Mentioned in Despatches

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (Lieut. D. C. Owen, Midd’x Rgt.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. D. C. Owen.) mounted court-style as worn, toned, nearly extremely fine (4) £1,000-£1,400

D.S.O. London Gazette 3 June 1917.

M.I.D. London Gazettes 4 January 1917; 15 May 1917; and 20 May 1918.

Douglas Charles Owen was born on 17 December 1880 and was educated at Rugby. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Middlesex Regiment on 4 May 1901, having previously served with the 4th Volunteer Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, and served with them in South Africa during the Boer War in 1902, being promoted Lieutenant on 24 September 1902. Advanced Captain on 26 August 1909, and Major on 4 May 1916, he served during the Great War on the Western Front on the Staff from 22 February 1916, and for his services was three times mentioned in Despatches and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order.

Owen was given the command of the 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, on 18 October 1918, and commanded them for the final three weeks of the Great War, during which the Battalion, as part of the 33rd Division, distinguished themselves at the crossing of the River Sambre on 5 November 1918. He died in 1949, and is buried in Thurston, Suffolk.