Image of Jesus College war memorial

Owen Watkin Wynn Harding Meredith, Second Lieutenant Royal Flying Corps

​Owen Watkin Wynn Harding Meredith matriculated in October 1914 after being educated at Harrow and then privately.

Born: Tibberton, Shropshire on 21 February 1893

Fell in action: 20 November 1917

It appears that he stayed in College until Easter Term 1915 (Jesus College Cambridge Society Annual Report 1915, p38). However, his obituary states that he left soon after arriving to join the army.

His obituary goes on to say that “he distinguished himself in all mechanical examinations in London, and was an excellent shot.” Rather than continuing in the army he joined the fledgling Royal Flying Corps where at one point he held the record for “high flying”.  He gained his Wings in July 1917 before going to the front in October of the same year. He was killed in action, near Cambrai, a month later.

“He was very popular, a gallant officer, a fearless pilot, and died a death which cannot but be a source of pride to all who were connected with him” (Jesus College Cambridge Society Annual Report 1919, pp26-27).

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