The Battalion arrived at Rouen on the 14/08/1914 and were part of the 74th Brigade, 25th Division when Owen fell. He arrived in France on the 01/12/1915. The attack of the 25th Division on Vimy Ridge in May 1916 is recalled in Plots I and II of the Ecoivres Military Cemetery. It contains 1,728 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. The German attack on Vimy Ridge - During this defensive fight, the Division's first Victoria Cross was won by Lieutenant Richard Jones of the 8th (Service) Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. It was a posthumous award, for this Officer was Killed in Action on the 21/05/1916. SEE PHOTOS x 8 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY APRIL 1916. The War Diary 27/04/1916 states : "In trenches as above. Usual trench mortar and artillery activity on the part of the enemy. Casualties : Captain G.S. Norman 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles and Lt. P. Moss 3rd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, both slightly, remained at duty. The Battalion was relieved by the 13th Cheshire Regiment but left two Lewis guns and teams to remain in the line. Relief complete about 3.40am 28/04/1916". Owen is listed as PRIVATE COLLIGAN on the Coatbridge Memorial. Owen is listed as aged 36 by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The date of birth listed here is from his Birth Certificate. Grave photo kindly donated by Mick McCann at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here. See photos for Owen's Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his name on the Ireland Casualties of WW1 and his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, Ecoivres Military Cemetery, the Royal Irish Rifles Cap Badge and Owen's Pension Records x 2. Finally, see photos for Newspaper clippings x 2 (Coatbridge Express x 1 and Coatbridge Leader x 1) and the 25th Division Order of Battle x 13 (the Division Owen was with when he fell).
