Wilfred Osborne
Memorial: Kingswood - Holy Trinity Church
Regiment: Norfolk Regiment
Medals: 1939–45 Star, War Medal 1939–1945
Rank and number: Private
Parents: Clara Osborne
Home address: 10, Kennington Avenue Kingswood
Pre-war occupation: Builder’s Labourer
Date of birth: 06/02/1917
Date of death: 12/02/1942
Buried/Commemorated at: Buried at Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore and commemorated on Kingswood Memorial
Age: 25
Further information:
4th Battalion Norfolk Regiment.
Wilfred had an older brother, a younger brother and 2 younger sisters. He and both of his brothers worked as builder’s labourers and his sisters as factory machinists. All 5 children were living with their widowed mother in 1939.
Wilfred sailed with his Battalion from Liverpool on 29th October 1941 and finally landed at Keppel Harbour, Singapore on 29th January which at that time was being raided day and night by enemy aircraft. The Battalion was given a sector to defend in the north east of the island until the Japanese made a landing on the north west coast when it moved to Bukit Timah, 5 miles west of Singapore Town. On 11th February it went into action west of the racecourse and met a strong Japanese attack. Heavy fighting ensued with no air support whilst the Japanese had plenty of aircraft which harried the troops continually. It was during this fighting that Wilfred lost his life.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
This information has been provided by Sarah Hands, Volunteer Researcher for the South Gloucestershire War Memorials Web Site.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
https://www.cwgc.org/
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/
https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/
https://www.cofepow.org.uk/armed-forces-stories-list/the-4th-battalion-royal-norfolks