Arthur Henry Osmond
Memorial: Downend - Christ Church
Regiment: Royal Navy
Medals: 1914–15 Star, British War Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Victory Medal
Rank and number: Ordinary Seaman J25905
Parents: Albion Ernest and Florence Emily (Nee Herniman) Osmond
Marital status: Single
Home address: 1901 Census - lived 26 Cromer Road, Easton, Bristol
Pre-war occupation: Mess Room Steward
Date of birth: 02/11/1897
Place of birth: Easton, Bristol
Date of death: 31/05/1916
Buried/Commemorated at: No Known Grave – commemorated Plymouth Naval Memorial
Age: 22
Further information:
The details of the casualty recorded is a “Probable”. No evidence has been found that Arthur lived in the Staple Hill/Downend area, although a cousin of his father did live in Staple Hill. Also the Staple Hill Page Park Memorial lists a Pte Osmond A.
Arthur joined the Royal Navy in July 1913 as a “boy” and served as a Mess room steward. Once he reached the age of 18, he signed up for a 12 year period and was given the rank of Ordinary Seaman.
HMS Defence was involved in the Battle of Jutland and was lost with all hands when the ship after being hit by enemy shells caught fire and the ammunition store exploded.
The 1911 Census shows Albion Osmond as a lodger in Ashley down Road with his two sons Arthur and Harold (age 4). Albion is recorded as a widower. Therefore it is possible Albion (who was a Railway clerk and born in Fishponds could have lodged in the Downend/Staple Hill area. After the war, Albion was living in Knowle, he married again in 1927, but died in 1929.
Arthur died 31/06/1916 (Killed in Action) and is Commemorated on the Christ Church Downend memorial and the Staple Hill (Page Park) Memorial.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Findmypast (Soldiers Died during the Great War, 1901 & 1911 Census etc), Researcher John Davis.