Maddock, OL

2nd Lieutenant Owen Loftus Maddock

Owen was born on April 20^th 1897, the fourth of five children of Richard Maddock, who worked for a life insurance company, and his wife, Elizabeth. He spent four years at Wellswood School, Sutton, before coming to Dulwich in September 1909; he had been preceded at the College by his two elder brothers, Richard and John. Owen spent five years at Dulwich during which he matriculated at London University, and spent his final summer before leaving in 1914 as a member of the cricket 2^nd XI. From Dulwich he went on to work at Coutts Bank, and was employed at their branch on the Strand for six months during 1915.

In November 1915 Owen left Coutts to enlist for service as a member of the Artists Rifles. After nine months training he obtained a commission in the Queen Victoria Rifles in July 1916 and went over to the front with his new unit on September 20^th. They were sent to the Somme, and just over a fortnight later, on October 7^th, he was killed whilst leading his men in an assault on enemy lines near Les Boeufs.