OSBORNE, Harry


No.12519, Guardsman, Harry OSBORNE
Aged 27


1st Battalion, Irish Guards
formerly 3388, Household Battalion
Killed in Action on Friday, 27th September 1918


Harry Osborne was born Weston Colville (Linton Q2-1891 3B:545), son of George and Elizabeth OSBORN (E) (née HART ). His mother was born in Bottisham [1855] and died in 1899.

1901 census...Aged 9, he was at Hall Farm Cottages, Weston Colville with his widower father George OSBORN [49] yard man on farm, born Norton, Suffolk; his sisters Margaret [25] born Trumpington, Hilda [12] May [7] and Daisy [5]; brothers David [14] farm labourer, and William [3]. All except his father and sister Margaret were born in Weston Colville

1911 census...Aged 19, a farm labourer, he was still at Hall Farm Cottages with his father, sisters Lena and Daisy; brothers David Felton (farm labourer) and William John (school)



He enlisted in Woolpit.
The war diary :-
" The attack on Flesquières =27/9/18 - The Bn marched off to DEMICOURT-GRAYLING POST road according to timetable of preliminary march and halted there for tea and rum. It was a poring wet morning and the men got very wet going there.
There was no shelling while the Bn was moving down to the rendezvous nor during the halt there.
At 3.30 am the companies moved off in the following order No 4, No 3, No 1 No 2 Coys along to the DEMICOURT-GRAINCOURT road to BULLEN POST K.8.b.3.1. where guides previously sent on met there and led them to their exact forming up positions.Narrative of operations for this period is attached and marked Appendix C. About 3 pm the Division on our left attacked GRAINCOURT again and captured it after which the situation was relieved and the Bn was no longer subjected to artillery fire.The 2nd Div here were also able to pass through and go on towards their objective, NOYELLES."


The appendix does not accurately locate the Bn at all times other than that Flesquières was taken



photo: Rex Watson

Harry Osborne is buried in Sanders Keep Military Cemetery, Graincourt-les-Havincourt, grave 2:B:7

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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