Able Seaman James Owen

Able Seaman James George Cairns Owen, Royal Navy. He was killed in action at sea, aged 20, on the 30th April 1940 during the Norwegian Campaign. He had been born in Jedburgh and was the son of James and Annie Owen of 1 Bondgate Gardens, Jedburgh. He had been employed in the Jedburgh Co-op before joining the Royal Navy in 1938.  He was a gunner on board the sloop H.M.S. Bittern when she was hit on the stern by German bombers off Namsos, Norway. The ship had to be abandoned and sunk by the destroyer “Janus” who had picked up the survivors.