Dates:
War Service:
Private Leslie Augustus Osborn, 12th (Ayr and Lanark Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers was killed in action on the 8th December 1917, aged 21.
On enlisting in the army he joined the Northumberland Fusiliers but later transferred to the Royal Scots Fusiliers. On the day that he died, the 12th Royal Scots Fusiliers were part of the 74th Division that bore the brunt of the fighting in the final push against the Turks in Jerusalem. They had moved from their bivouacs at Beit Anan (approximately 8 miles north west of Jerusalem) and attacked Turkish positions. The weather that day was very poor, the hills being wrapped in rain clouds with no shelter for the troops. The battalion lost five men killed that day.
On the 11th January 1918 the Catford Journal and Bellingham Weekly News published his death notice “OSBORN – Killed in action in Palestine on 8th December, 1917. Private Leslie Augustus Osborn, aged 21, eldest and dearly loved son of Mrs. S. Osborn, 13 Benin-street, Hither Green. Sadly missed by his Mother, Sister and Brothers”.
He is buried and remembered in Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel.
Location of Memorial:
He is remembered on the memorials at St Andrew's Church, Catford
Details:
He was the eldest son of Augustus Henry and Sarah Jane Osborn of 13 Benin Street, Hither Green Lane. Prior to the war he lived at 63 Killearn Road, Catford and was employed as a telegraphist messenger.
Source:
Contributed By: Kevin Loughnane
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