James Owens

A close encounter with Russian troops in the Crimean War earned James Owens one of Britain's highest honours for gallantry. An Irish-born soldier of the 49th Regiment of Foot, Owens became a recipient of the Victoria Cross for his courage during the fighting before Sevastopol in 1854. His story is one of battlefield bravery, long military service and a remarkable second career at the Tower of London.

Born in 1829 at Killaine, near Bailieborough, County Cavan, Ireland, James Owens was the son of Philip Owens, a soldier in the 6th Regiment. Before joining the Army, he worked as a labourer. On 26 December 1848, he enlisted in the 49th Regiment of Foot at Glasgow. His early military service included postings in the Ionian Islands and Malta before his regiment deployed to the Crimea.

On 30 October 1854, while serving as a Corporal, Owens distinguished himself in a personal encounter with Russian forces and assisted Major Conolly of the Coldstream Guards. The Supplement to the London Gazette, published on 24 February 1857, officially announced his Victoria Cross and recorded his gallantry in its citation: "Greatly distinguished himself on the 30th October, 1854, in personal encounter with the Russians, and nobly assisted Major Conolly, Coldstream Guards." Queen Victoria presented him with the Victoria Cross at the first general VC investiture in Hyde Park, London, on 26 June 1857. His Crimean service was also recognised with the Crimea Medal bearing the Alma, Inkermann and Sebastopol clasps, and the Turkish Crimea Medal.

Owens continued his military career after the Crimean War, serving in further overseas postings and rising to the rank of Colour Sergeant. He was discharged at Colchester on 22 February 1870 after more than twenty-one years of service. In the same year, he married Elizabeth Perin and began a new chapter as a Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London, a position he held until 1878.

James Owens spent his later years in Essex and died at Romford on 20 August 1901. He was laid to rest at Christ Church Cemetery in Brentwood. From an infantryman's courage on the Crimean battlefield to his later service as a Yeoman Warder, Owens left behind a lasting story of duty, resilience and extraordinary bravery. His Victoria Cross continues to commemorate the actions of a soldier whose courage stood out amid one of the defining military campaigns of the nineteenth century.