Description
Frederick Arthur Osborne served throughout the Great War and later served in the Second World War when he was invalided out in 1944, dying in 1947. He rests in a Commonwealth War Grave in Portsmouth, Hampshire.
He was born 15th February 1893 at Chelsea, London. The boy signed up for 12 years in 1911 and served through the war until pensioned 1933. He was mobilised September 1938, joining Hawkins December 1939 invalided out January 1944.
Of note he was serving on H.M.S. Barham for the Battle of Jutland and later served in WW2 on H.M.S. Hawkins.
Leading Seaman Frederick Arthur Osborne. P/J 3325, Royal Navy, died 24th September 1947.
He is Remembered with Honour at Portsmouth (Milton) Cemetery.
Medals – 1914/15 star trio named to J. 3325. F. A. OSBORNE. A.B. R.N. (L.S. on pair) with 1939/45 Star, Atlantic Star, Africa Star and War medal, still in wrappers (2), in original box of issue to Mrs A. Osborne, 14 Dover Road, Copnor, Portsmouth, Hants along with official Admiralty condolence slip.
Footnote – H.M.S. Hawkins, 23 May 1942
When the Second World War began in 1939, the Royal Navy decided to reconvert HAWKINS back into a heavy cruiser and her original armament was reinstalled. Hawkins re-entered service in early 1940 and was assigned to the South Atlantic Division where she patrolled for Axis commerce raiders and escorted convoys. The following year, she was transferred to the Indian Ocean where she played a small role in the East African campaign in early 1941. At the end of the year, the ship returned home for a lengthy refit. Upon its completion in mid-1942, Hawkins was assigned to the Eastern Fleet and resumed her former roles of patrolling and escort duty for the next two years.
The ship returned to the UK in early 1944 to participate in Operation Neptune, the naval portion of the invasion of Normandy in June. She bombarded German coastal defences on 6 June, but was paid off in July. The Royal Navy decided to convert her back into a training ship while she was under repair, but that work was cancelled in 1945. Hawkins was placed back in reserve that year and was used for bombing trials in 1947. The vessel was sold for scrap later that year.
