2nd Lieutenant, Edward Bertram OSBORNE
Aged 34
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Born in 1884 in Belfast to Christie and Margaret OSBORNE of42 Ivy Road, Handsworth.
1891 census...Aged 7, he was at 69 Catford Hill, Lewisham with his father Christie T OSBORNE [47] tea and colonial merchant; his mother Margaret [46]; brothers Smythe [22] tea merchant's assistant and Harry H [12] all born in Ireland, and brother James M [3] born in Lewisham. 1901 census...Aged 17. marine engineering apprentice, he was at 9 Cavendish Road, Barrow in Furness with his parents and brother Henry H, also a marine engineering apprentice. He next attained a Royal Agricultural Society National Diploma in 1904 at Leeds Agricultural College. He had been science master at the Soham Grammar School in 1905. 1911 census...Aged 27, he was an assistant master at the Grammar School, Brewood, Staffordshire. He married Mildred A PRICE (Newmarket Q4-1912 3B:1372). They at one time lived at 'Balijan', Eton Road, Worthing and is commemorated on the war memorial there. His widow's address given as Mrs E.B. Osborne, 20 Josephine Avenue, Brixton Hill. |
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He enlisted as No-10251, Private in the London Regiment. Commissioned 26th September 1917, temp 2nd Lt, London Gazette 16th October 1917 According enquiry letter to the IRC he was reported missing on 21st March 1918, the 1st day of the German Spring Offensive, the Kaiserschlacht. The Germans record that he died, of a gunshot wound to the head, in their military hospital in Le Cateau and was buried there. As there is no record of exhumation and he is buried in an Officers plot, it seems these casualties were not disturbed by later concentrations. His widow's address with International Red Cross was Mrs E.B.Osborne "Balijan" Eton Road, Worthing. There is some confusion as to his unit, whether he was actually with 2nd/5th Bn (they were not in the front line on 21st March 1918) or 2nd battalion attached to 1st/5th. Neither of these show an officer named E.B.Osborne as missing at any time from 21st to 31st March.
photo: Rodney Gibson also commemorated on the roll of honour at Atherstone Grammar School click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
