Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Military Service

Additional Information

Son of Frederic and Mary (nee Carsley) Hague of Montreal, Quebec. He was the brother of Margherita Frances Mary and Dorothy Sarah Bertha and Kennington Henry Scott. Owen attended local Montreal schools and graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor's degree in Science as well as a Master's degree in Science. He was one of the first of his peers to offer his services when Canada entered the First World War, going directly into the army from university. He attested in Quebec on 25 September 1914 and was shipped out to Salisbury, England for training. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant and served with the 7th Battery, 2nd Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery. He fought with distinction earning several special mentions from his superiors. The following circumstances of his death have been compiled from letters received by Owen's father, Frederic Hague from officers in the area at the time. Early on Sunday morning, May 2, 1915 Owen and another officer left their position to check on a Canadian Battery who had positioned themselves on the bank of the Yser Canal near St. Julien close to the France-Belgium border. They had only gone a few yards when a six inch, high explosive canon shell burst. The other officer, Lieut. Alexis Helmer, was killed instantly. Owen lay about thirty feet away where he had been thrown by the force of the explosion. His left leg was very nearly torn off at the middle of the thigh and he also had a compound fracture of the right thigh. Owen died of his wounds that night in a field hospital at Hazebrouck, France. He is buried in the Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery where there is a memorial stone with the inscription "To the memory of Lieut. Owen C.F. Hague, 7th Battery, 1st Canadian Division. Killed in Action, Ypres, May 3, 1915. A Tribute of Respect from his Fellow Officers".

Commemorated on Page 17 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.