William Horace Osborne

A Rifleman with 1/12th Bn., William died on 9th of September 1916 at the age of 27.  

William was born at Attleborough, Norfolk, on 16 March 1889, a son of William and Mary Ann Osborne. He was baptised at Saint Mary's Church, Attleborough, on 26 May 1889. In 1891 his family lived at 78 New North Road, Attleborough. By 1901 they were living at 25 Salisbury Road, Lowestoft, and later at 33 Salisbury Road.

William was working as a postman when he joined the Royal Navy, on 5 June 1907, to serve as a Domestic 3rd Class. On 1 October 1907 he became an Officer's Steward 3rd Class and, on 1 October 1908, became an Officer's Cook 2nd Class. On 1 January 1909 he returned to the rate of Officer's Steward 2nd Class. He was discharged on 27 September 1912 at his own request.  

In June 1914 William began working for the Great Eastern Railway, as a carriage cleaner, at Lowestoft Central Station. Later he became a porter and worked at Great Yarmouth, South Town, Station.

William was living at 25 Coronation Road, Great Yarmouth, and working as a porter for the Great Eastern Railway, when he was attested for the Royal Sussex Regiment, service number G/9284, at Great Yarmouth, on 25 November 1915. He was 'called up' for service on 1 March 1916. He served with the 3rd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment before being transferred, on 19 June 1916, to serve with the 22nd Battalion London Regiment, arriving at Havre, France, on 30 June 1916. William did not join the 22nd Battalion because, on 11 July 1916, he was posted to the 1/12th Battalion London Regiment. 

The 1/12th Battalion sustained a large number of casualties during their attack on Gommecourt on 1 July 1916 and needed to be reinforced to bring the Battalion back to fighting strength. A draft of 158 men, joined the Battalion, from the Base, on 12 July 1916, and another 126 men on 13 July. William would have been one of these reinforcements. In early August 1916 William suffered from influenza and was treated at a Field Ambulance. 

In September 1916 the 1/12th Battalion were based on the Somme. On 6 September they marched to the Casement Trenches; on 7 September they relieved the 7th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers at Sunken Trench, near Wedge Wood; on 8 September they moved an assembly trench west of Leuze Wood. 

On 9 September the Battalion, with the 4th London Regiment on their right, made an attack on the German front line between The Quadriliateral and Bouleaux Wood. They were able to hold and consolidate the forward trench, which did not include The Quadrilateral. Two officers and 101 men, including William, were killed in the attack.