Owen Mead participated in the Gallipoli campaign and served on the Western Front.
16 Facts About Owen Mead
1.
2.
Owen Mead went missing, presumed killed, on 25 July 1942, when the aircraft he was a passenger on was lost at sea while en route to Tonga.
3.
Owen Mead was the highest ranked New Zealand soldier killed on active service during the war.
4.
Owen Mead was born in Dunedin, New Zealand on 24 January 1892.
5.
Owen Mead joined the Territorial Force and by 1914 was in charge of senior cadets.
6.
Owen Mead was lightly wounded soon after the landings at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915 but was only out the lines briefly for medical attention before returning to the front.
7.
Owen Mead later fought in actions at Cape Helles but became unwell with dysentery and was evacuated to England.
8.
Owen Mead participated in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette in September 1916, during which he was wounded, and was mentioned in despatches for his leadership of his company during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette in September 1916.
9.
In England for recovery from his wounds, Owen Mead was involved in the raising of the 4th Infantry Brigade.
10.
Owen Mead participated in the Battle of Messines and afterwards was made second-in-command of his battalion.
11.
Owen Mead finished the war as commander of the training battalion for the Canterbury Regiment, and was again mentioned in despatches.
12.
Owen Mead attended the Staff College in Camberley, England, from 1927 to 1928.
13.
Owen Mead was a brigadier and in command of the Northern Military District at the start of the Second World War in September 1939.
14.
Owen Mead was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1940 King's Birthday Honours.
15.
In March 1942, Owen Mead was promoted to major general and made commander of the Pacific Section, 2NZEF, replacing its former commander, Major General William Cunningham.
16.
Owen Mead was the highest-ranking officer of the New Zealand Military Forces to be killed on active service.