Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Edward Owen Whittle, a domestic groom, born 1868 in Oakham, Rutland and his wife Laura Isabel Whittle (nee Wilson, married in the 2nd quarter of 1890 in the Brixworth, Northamptonshire district), born 1868 in Little Brington, Northamptonshire. Owen William Eric was born on the 18th July 1891 in Market Overton, Rutland, he had one sibling, a brother, Vere Edward Roberts, born 10th June 1900 in Manton, Rutland, in March 1901 the family home was at Church Lane, Manton. In April 1911 Owen was employed as a domestic gardener and was residing in the family home at Ayston, Rutland, together with his father, a groom, his mother and siblings, Amy Isabel, a dressmaker, born 1894 in Market Overton and Vere. Owen married Louise Ada East on the 18th March 1916 in the Kettering, Northamptonshire district, who was the youngest daughter of the late Mr William Yorke East and of Mrs East of Kettering, Northamptonshire. Prior to his enlistment he had been a member of the Northampton Borough Police. He embarked for France in mid 1916 and saw much action with the Northamptonshire Pioneers, and was wounded by a shell splinter in the right wrist during the Battle of the Somme. While the 24th Division were falling back from Peronne towards Amiens in March 1918 Owen had been fighting continuously from the 21st to the 25th, and was killed instantaneously on the latter date by a bullet wound to the head. Owen was awarded the British War and Victory medals. His younger brother Vere Edward Roberts also died.
On Friday August 25th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – MARKET OVERTON MAN WOUNDED. Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Whittle, of Market Overton, have received news that their son, Pte. Owen W. Whittle, of the Northampton regiment, was wounded on the 5th inst., being struck on the right wrist by a splinter of shell. Before joining Kitchener’s Army in June of last year, Pte. Whittle had been for two years a member of the Northampton Borough Police Force.
The War Diary records: 25 Mar-18 - FONCHES. At 8.45 am the Battalion was ordered to co-operate in a counter attack delivered by the French on our right and 8th Division on our left. We came into contact with the enemy east of CURCHY and owing to the French attack on our right not taking place we formed a defensive line together with the remnants of another Division. Owing to our right flank being in the air the enemy got round our flank and behind CURCHY in considerable force, causing us many casualties and forcing us to withdraw to our original line FONCHES – FONCHETTE about 2.00 pm. Troops on both our flanks withdrew too far leaving both our flanks in the air, but they came up into position again about 4.00 pm. Our advanced posts were continually engaged with the enemy throughout the afternoon. We also repulsed a strong German patrol between us and the 72nd Infantry Brigade. About 7.00 pm we withdrew our left flank to conform with the 9th ROYAL SUSSEX REGIMENT and the 13th MIDDLESEX REGIMENT who had been forced out of a village on our left.
On Friday May 3rd 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MARKET OVERTON.” – PRIVATE OWEN WHITTLE KILLED. – Deep sympathy is expressed for Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Whittle, of Market Overton, who have received the sad news that their elder son, Owen was killed in action on March 25th. He joined the Northampton Regiment on June 1st, 1915, and had been in France nearly two years. Before enlistment he was a member of Northampton Borough Police Force for two years. The Company Officer, writing to the deceased soldier’s young widow, said; - “On the 25th March, as the Battalion advanced against the enemy, your husband was struck by a bullet, and was killed instantly. Please accept my warmest sympathy.”