James Osborne (VC)
James Osborne | |
|---|---|
Osborne in 1882 | |
| Born | 13 April 1857 |
| Died | 1 February 1928 (aged 70) Wigginton, Hertfordshire, UK |
| Buried | St Bartholomew's Church, Wigginton |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Service years | 1876–1883 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | 58th (Rutlandshire) Regiment of Foot (1876–1881) 2nd Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment (1881–1883) |
| Conflicts | Anglo-Zulu War |
| Awards | South Africa Medal, 1879 Victoria Cross, 1882 |
| Spouse |
Rhoda Osborne
(m. 1883; died 1925) |
| Children | 3 |
| Other work | Agricultural labourer |
James Osborne VC (13 April 1857 – 1 February 1928) was an English agricultural labourer, Private and recipient of the Victoria Cross.[1]
Biography
James Osborne was born on 13 April 1857 in Wigginton to John Osborne, an agricultural labourer, and Mary Osborne (née Coker).[1][2] Osborne was educated at Wigginton Village School.[1]
Upon leaving school Osborne worked as an agricultural labourer for the Rothschild's Champneys country house and estate.[1]
Military
In December 1876, Osborne enlisted in Hertford and joined the 58th (Rutlandshire) Regiment of Foot.[1] In 1879, Osborne was deployed to present-day South Africa to serve in the Anglo-Zulu War and was subsequently awarded the South Africa Medal.[1]
Osborne served in the First Boer War and fought at the Battle of Majuba Hill and Battle of Schuinshoogte.[1]
Victoria Cross
In 1882, Osborne was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on the 22 February 1981 at Wesselstroom (present day, Wakkerstroom):
For his gallant conduct at Wesselstroom, on the 22nd February, 1881, in riding, under a heavy fire, towards a party of 42 Boers, picking up Private Mayes, who was lying wounded, - and carrying him safely into camp
War Office, March 18, 1882.[3]
At the time of his award Osborne was a private in the 2nd Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment.[1] Osborne was awarded the Victoria Cross medal by Lieutenant-general Leicester Smyth at a investiture in Pietermaritzburg, Natal (present-day, KwaZulu-Natal).[1]
Return to civilian life
Osborne was discharged from the army in April 1883, and returned to Wigginton to work as an agricultural labourer at Champneys.[1] On 8 September 1883, Osborne married Rhoda Osborne (née Collier; 1860–1925).[1][4] Together they had 3 children.[1] In 1913, Osborne was partially paralysed by a stroke.[1]
Osborne died on 1 February 1928 in Wigginton aged 70 and was buried alongside his wife at St Bartholomew’s Church, with full military honours.[1][5][6][7]
Legacy
In 1941, Osborne's Victoria Cross was destroyed during the Belfast Blitz.[1]
In 2019, in honour of Osborne a stained glass pulpit window by Thomas Denny was installed at St Bartholomew’s Church, Wigginton.[8][9][10]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Victoria Cross and George Cross Association. "James OSBORNE VC". VC GC Association. London: Victoria Cross and George Cross Association. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ^ "James Oisborne [Osborne]". 1861 England Census. Class: Rg 9, Piece: 842, Folio: 12, Page: 18, GSU roll: 542709. Key, Surrey: National Archives. 1861.
- ^ "War Office, March 18, 1882". The London Gazette. No. 25084. London. 14 March 1882. p. 1130. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ^ "James Osborn and Rhoda Collier". England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes. 3a (Q3). London: General Register Office: 711. 1883.
- ^ "James Osborne". England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007. 3a (Q1). London: General Register Office: 1140. 1928.
- ^ "OLDEST V.C. DEAD". Birmingham Gazette. Birmingham. 3 February 1928. p. 1. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ^ "DE/X1024/1/173/1: Photograph: gravestone of James Osborne, VC, died 1 Feb 1928. Churchyard of St Bartholomew, Wigginton". Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies. Hertfordshire County Council. 2005. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ^ "War Memorial: The Victoria Cross". St. Bartholomew. St Bartholomews Vicarage, Wigginton: St. Bartholomew Wigginton. 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ^ "DE/X1024/1/172/25: Photograph: stained glass window commemorating Private James Osborne's Victoria Cross winning actions. Interior of church of St Bartholomew, Wigginton". Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies. Hertfordshire County Council. 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ^ Denny, Thomas (2022). "Windows". Thomas Denny. Retrieved 1 November 2025.