No.12933, Private, James OSBORN
Aged 34
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James OSBORN was born in 1886 in Chatham (Medway Q1-1886 2A:577) son of John and Harriet OSBORN (née BAXTER)
1891 census...Aged 5, he and his brother John [7] were pupils at 10 Lynton Road, Hornsey, Middlesex with governess Alice A HARDING,[23] born Canterbury. The boys are recorded as born Chatham. At 182 Walworth Road, Newington, were his father John Osborn []40] tool merchant born Preston,Lancs and his mother Harriet [41] born Wagga Wagga, Australia, and brother George [1}, born Luton, Kent. This brother George is found here 1901 census...He has not been found in this census, but he does not appear on the census at the school. His parents were at 182 and 184 Walworth Road, Newington He married Elizabeth Caroline WHEELER on 5th October 1906 in Holborn. 1911 census...Aged 25, Sales Manager for Tools business, he was at 181/183 Walworth Road, Newington with his father John OSBORN [50] woodplane maker and tool merchant, born Preston, Lancs; his mother Harriet [52] born Australia; his wife Elizabeth Caroline [26] born Clerkenwell; daughter Elsie Lilian [3] and son Lawrence Geoffrey [1 month] both children born Southwark. Another son, Cyril Francis, was born 12th December 1914 |
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He enlisted in London on 31st August 1914, giving his age as 29 years 280 days, born in Maidstone, a tools dealer He was 5 feet 7.75 inches (172.2 cm) tall, chest 34" to 37" (86.4 to 94 cm) and weighed 138 lbs (62.6 kg), with brown eyes and hair, a Methodist. Next of kin, his wife Elizabeth Caroline. He joined the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry at Depot in Bodmin on 2nd September 1914 and was posted to the 6th Battalion. Posted to the BEF in France/Flanders on 21 May 1915. He received gunshot wounds to right leg, ankle and neck on 31st July 1915. His battalion was heavily engaged at Hooge at that date. He had reached Rouen Stationary Hospital, to be sent back to UK on 5th September 1915 and posted to the 4th Battalion. His Army record is scant and nothing shows where he was then, until he was discharged, no longer medically fit, on 14th June 1916, awarded silver war badge # B247106. There is a note on school records that he died as a result of war wounds. After a delay of over 100 years, wth the aid of "In from the Cold", we now have him recognised by CWGC, and hpefully he may get a proper war grave headstone. He died on 26th August 1920 (Lambeth Q3-1920 1D:289) aged 35 |
star marks the approx position of grave, possibly un-marked
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