Alfred Thomas Owen

A Stoker 1st Class with H.M.S. Indefatigable, Alfred died on 31st of May 1916 at the age of 29. 

Alfred was born at Pembroke Dock on 16 February 1887, a son of Charles and Margaret Owen. In 1891 his family lived at 8 King Street, Pembroke. By 1901 Alfred’s mother had died and his family lived at 4 King Street, Pembroke, and later his father lived at 3 Commercial Row, Pembroke Dock.   

Note Commonwealth War Graves states his father’s name was Thomas: no record has been found that corroborates this.  

On 26 December 1912 Alfred married Sarah Francis Mehennet. They lived at Granby Street, Devonport. After Alfred’s death Sarah married Frederick Clarke and they lived at 16 Rant Score, Lowestoft. 

Alfred was working as a carter when he enlisted in the Royal Navy, as a Stoker 2nd Class, on 22 August 1906. On 17 June 1913 Alfred joined H.M.S. Indefatigable. 

H.M.S. Indefatigable was sunk during the Battle of Jutland. The Indefatigable engaged the German battlecruiser Von der Tann. The Indefatigable’s rear turret was hit by shells from the Von der Tann and began to sink: a few minutes later more shells caused the ship’s magazines to explode. Alfred was one of 1,016 men who were killed: there were three survivors.