OVENS, Patrick John

Rank: 
Major General
Unit / Base: 
Training Centres WW2
46RM Commando
'41 Independent Commando RM'
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Marines
Service: 
Royal Navy
Born: 
Saturday, November 4, 1922
Died : 
Saturday, January 29, 1994
Place died: 
Wiltshire
Lt PJ Ovens
  • 1945, Lieutenant, Commando Basic Training Centre (CBTC). Pictured in a photo entitled "CBTC - Officers Mess - 1945."
  • 1945, posted to 46RM Commando shortly before it was disbanded.
  • 1950/1951 awarded the Military Cross for gallant and distinguished service 29 November 1950 in the Korean War during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir [1].
  • 1968, Lieutenant Colonel Ovens MC, Officer Commanding 41 Commando RM, appointed OBE (Military Division) for his command of 41 Commando but especially for the period that he and his Commando were engaged in the Torrey Canyon oil tanker spillage disaster off the coast of Cornwall [2][5].
  • 17 July 1972, Colonel (Brigadier) P. J. Ovens OBE, MC, appointed an Aide-de-Camp to The Queen [3].
  • 1974, Colonel, (Brigadier) P. J. Ovens OBE, MC, promoted Major General RM [4].
  • Chief of Staff to the Commandant General RM in the mid 70's before taking up his final role as Commandant of the Joint Warfare Establishment from 1976 to 1979 [5].
  • 2 April 1979 to Retired List [6].
Sources
[1] London Gazette 39230, page 2749.
[2] London Gazette 44600, page 6303.
[3] London Gazette 45712, page 7682. 
[4] London Gazette 46212, page 2215. 
[5] His son Jeremy Ovens (Commander(Rtd) RN)
[6] London Gazette 47809, page 4434. 
 

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