Albert Ernest Osborne

Personal Information
Date of Birth	not known
Place of Birth	Woodside, South Australia
Death	24 May 1918
Place of Death	Vignacourt, France
Age at Enlistment	35 years, 4 months
Description	5'7" (1.70m) tall; weight 150 lbs (68kg); fresh complexion, blue eyes, light brown hair.
Occupation	sleeper cutter
Religion	Church of England
Address	Canning Mills, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife Mrs Annie Kathleen Osborne
Military Information
Reg Number	6380
Date of Enlistment	2 Oct 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 18th Reinforcement / 7th Brigade, 2nd Division
Date of Embarkation	19 Dec 1916 - 3 Mar 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A34 Persic
Fate	Wounded in Action 22 May 1918 near Albert Died of Wounds 24 May 1918
Monument	none at present
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

During 1916 he married Annie K Campbell. Annie remarried in 1921 to Ernest Urquhart.

Electoral Roll entries - 1915 - 1916 Holyoake, hewer with Annie

War Service

Within a week of entering Black Boy Hill camp, Albert was allocated to the 23rd reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion. A week later this changed to the 18th draft for the 28th Battalion.

On arrival in England he was sent to the 7th Training Battalion at Rollestone to prepare for service on the Western Front, and on 14 Jun 1917 Albert proceeded overseas to France through Southampton.

In France he was initially held by the 2nd Division's Base Depot at Le Havre, until 2 Jul 1917 when he joined the 28th Battalion in Bapaume. At this time they were reorganising and rebuilding their strength after a time in the front lines.

Granted English leave from 22 Feb 1918 until 11 Mar 1918, he rejoined the battalion before being wounded in action on 22 May 1918. His initial treatment was by the 5th Australian Field Ambulance, before he was moved on the same day to the 51st Casualty Clearing Station where he died on 24 May 1918 from his wounds. His wounds included shell wounds to his abdomen, arm and foot.

The Battalion War Diary for 22 May 1918 reported a quiet day in the front line, with enemy artillery very quiet. Never the less, casualties for the day were 1 KIA and 1 WIA, with Albert seemingly the one classified as wounded.

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  Vignacourt Cemetery
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  Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Name on headstone spelt OSBOURNE