It is with deep sadness that we report the passing of one of our most cherished members, Captain William (Bill) Lloyd Owen RN and RAN. Bill passed away peacefully in a nursing home in Bundanoon, NSW on Friday 4 October 2024.
Bill finished school in England towards the end of the war and was evacuated to Coventry and was there when that city was bombed by the Luftwaffe. That might explain his rather controversial views on the indiscriminate RAF bombing of German cities, which he opposed vocally, even at the risk of his own naval career. Bill joined the Royal Navy right at the end of the war. He was serving on HMS Glasgow in the immediate post-war period. Glasgow was one of the first RN ships to sail to Singapore in an attempt to reclaim that former British colony. Glasgow was ordered to reposition to South Africa for refit. He then returned to England. After completing officer training Bill became a submariner. He skippered the first British warship, HMS Subtle, into a German port, Wilhelmshaven, in the post war period. He was amused by the fact that when asked what the word ‘subtle’ meant, there was no direct translation in the German language! He spent six months courtesy of the RN in Bavaria learning the German language and became fluent. He was initially thought of as a British spy, but managed to win over many of those he met, in his customary way. He regularly corresponded with these German friends over the years, even after he moved to Australia with the Royal Australian Navy. Another feat before leaving Britain was to skipper a RN submarine under the polar ice cap where he surfaced so the crew could have quick game of cricket. He finished his naval career as OIC of the RAN Submarine Squadron, based at HMAS Platypus at Neutral Bay in Sydney.
In brief, they just don’t make them like him anymore.
These words from the Police Ode, reflect Bill’s long service history:
As the sun surely sets
dawn will see it arise,
for service, above self,
demands its own prize.
You have fought the good fight:
life’s race has been run,
and peace, your reward,
for eternity begun.
And we that are left,
shall never forget,
rest in peace friend and colleague,
for the sun has now set.
Vale Captain Bill Owen. You will be sorely missed.
Bill was a long-time and valued member of the RCS ACT Branch. He was 98. A Celebration of Bill’s life and a Wake will be held in Saturday 16 November 2024 at 1400.
to RSVP click here
Banner Photo: Bill Owen (Left) with Matin Hess (Membership Secretary, RCS ACT)
