John George Osborne

John George was the son of Hiram and Elizabeth Ann Osborne nee Rawson. His father Hiram was born in New Basford, birth registered 1852 (J/F/M Basford, Read), and his mother Elizabeth Ann also in New Basford, probably in 1852 (A/M/J Basford, Rawson). They were married in 1875 (O/N/D Basford) and at the time of the 1911 Census when they had been married for 36 years they had had nine children of whom only eight were still living. Nine children were named on the census between 1891 and 1911, all were born in Basford: Elizabeth A. b. abt 1874, James b. 1880 (O/N/D Basford, Rawson), Florrie birth registered 1884 (J/F/M Basford), Hiram b. 1886 (J/A/S Basford, name recorded as 'Iram'), Horace b. 24 April 1888 (A/M/J Basford), John George birth registered 1890 (J/F/M Basford, Rawson), Henrietta 1891 (O/N/D Basford), May b. 1893 (A/M/J Basford, Rawson) and Harold birth registered 1896 (J/F/M Basford, Rawson). No record has yet been found of the death of any of the nine children before the 1911 Census. The eldest child, Elizabeth, who may have been born before Hiram and Elizabeth's marriage, was not recorded living with them on the 1881 Census but was doing so by 1891 when she was listed on the census as Elizabeth A Osborne, and her relationship to the head of household (Hiram) as 'daughter'. She has not yet been traced after 1891. In 1881 Hiram, a bleacher's trimmer, and Elizabeth, a lace mender, and their son James (u/1yr) were living at 8 John's Cottages, Basford, with Elizabeth's widowed grandfather, John Rawson (70), a butcher. By 1891 Hiram and Elizabeth were living at 8 Liddington Street, Basford. Hiram (39) was a hosiery finisher. Also in the household were Elizabeth (17) a fancy lace mender, James (10), Florrie (7), Hiram (4), Horace (2) and John (1). They were still at the same address the following year; eight children were in the home on the night of the census: James (20) an articled clerk with a firm of solicitors, Florrie (17) a lace maker), Hiram (15) a wicker worker, and Horace (12), John (11), Henrietta (9), May (8) and Harold (5). Elizabeth has not been traced on either the 1901 or 1911 Census. The family home was still at 8 Liddington Street in 1911. Only four children, Horace (22) a threader (lace trade), Henrietta (19) a packer (tobacco company), May (18) a mender (lace trade) and Harold (15) a boot repairer, were in the home with their parents on the night of the census. John George had married Florence Mabel Hale at St Leodegarius Church, Basford, on 4 February 1911 (J/F/M Nottingham), shortly before the 1911 Census. They were to have three children: George Ronald (Ron) b. 7 June 1911 (J/A/S Nottingham), Florence Maisie b. 25 September 1914 (O/N/D Nottingham) and Kathleen Mary b. 12 November 1916 (O/N/D Nottingham), two months after her father's death. Florence Mabel (known as Mabel) was born on 22 January 1890, the daughter of Cornelius and Alice Laura Hale. She was baptised on 4 May 1890 at the parish church of St Ann, Nottingham; her parents were then living at 37 Lavender Street. By 1901 the family was living in Gotham but by 1911 had moved to 441 Berridge Road, Hyson Green. In 1911 John (21) a lace maker and Florence (21) were living at 67 Melrose Street, Nottingham. However, when John enlisted in December 1915 they were living at 82 Crossman Street, Sherwood. The later CWGC record gives Mabel's address as 77 Birkin Avenue, Hyson Green, Nottingham. By 1939 at the time of the England & Wales Register, Mabel was living at 219 Minver Crescent, Nottingham. Her three children were still at home: George, an unemployed painter, Florence who was not in employment, and Kathleen (later Buxton) a textile operative. Also in the household was Mabel's widowed mother, Alice Hale (b. 25 October 1865) who was described as 'incapacitated' (d. 1944 J/F/M Nottingham). Mabel died in 1967 (J/A/S Nottingham) aged 77. Her daughter Florence Maisie died on 19 September 1944 (J/A/S Nottingham). Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 21 September 1944: ‘Osborne. September 19th, Florence Maisie (suddenly), beloved daughter of the Mabel and late George, beloved sister of Ron and Kathleen. Reunited with grandma. Funeral Friday, Bulwell.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) George Ronald may have married Emily Moore in 1946 (O/N/D Nottingham); he died in 1979 (J/F/M Nottingham). Kathleen probably married Philip Buxton in 1940 (J/A/S Nottingham). John's father, Hiram, died in 1914 (O/N/D Nottingham) aged 62. His brother, Horace, served with the Royal Naval Division from 30 August 1915. He named his mother, Elizabeth Ann Osborne, as his next of kin; both were still living at 8 Liddington Street, Basford. At the time of John's death in September 1916 Horace was serving in HMS Indomitable.

In 1911 he was a lace maker and still working in the lace trade when he enlisted in 1915.

82 Crossman Street, Sherwood, Nottingham

John George's army record survives. He attested on 10 December 1915 and served at Home from 12 December 1915 until 15 July 1916, then with the BEF France from 16 July 1916. He was killed in action on 3 September 1916 and was buried in Knightsbridge Cemetery, Mesnil-Martinsart, France (grave ref. F.32). However, a family notice in the local paper on the anniversary of his death in 1917 suggested that at that date the family believed he had no known grave. John qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

John's brother-in-law, Charles Edward Hale, served in the 7th Bn Sherwood Foresters (266939 Private) and was killed in action on 26 September 1917. (See record on this Roll of Honour) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 25 September 1916: ‘Osborne. Killed in action, September 3rd, 1916, Private JG Osborne. The stars shine on an unknown grave of one we loved, but could not save. From loving mother, sisters, and brothers, Florrie, Hetty, May, Harold, Horace (on HMS Indomitable), Will (brother-in-law)’ (www.britishnewspaper.archive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 25 September 1916: ‘Osborne. Killed in action, September 3rd, Private JG Osborne, Sherwood Foresters, of 82, Crossman-street, Sherwood, aged 26. When times are hard and friends are few, dear husband how I long for you; the one I loved but could not save, lies buried in an unknown grave. From his broken-hearted wife and children.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 3 September 1917: ‘Osborne. In loving memory of my dear husband, Private John George Osborne, killed in action September 3rd, 1916. His unknown grave the bitter blow. Loving wife and children; also brothers-in-law Charlie and Ernest (twins) (in France).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) A pension of 20 shillings and 6d a week for herself and her three children was awarded to John's widow, Florence Mabel, with effect from 26 March 1917.