The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Osborne
First Name:
John Robert
Nick Name:
John or Bob
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX9287
Company:
‘D’ Company
Enlisted:
30.10.1940
DOB:
15.01.1915
Place of Birth:
Bruce Rock, Western Australia
Father's Name:
John Osborne
Mothers's Name:
Alice Osborne (nee Aldrich)
Religion:
Methodist
Pre-war Occupation:
Farmhand
Memorial:
Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, Plot A5, Row G, Grave 14, Age 28.
Singapore:
Selarang Camp Changi, Johore Bahru, Adam Park, Selarang Barracks Changi
Force:
‘F’ Force Thailand
Camps Thailand:
Kami Sonkurai
POW#:
4/6480
Cause of Death:
Pneumonia
Place of Death:
Kami Sonkurai
Date of Death:
27.09.1943
Buried:
Grave No. 170, Kami Sonkurai

General Description

Osborne enlisted AIF 30 Oct 1940 later joining ‘D’ Company No. 15 Platoon under Commanding Officer Lt. Meiklejohn.  Please read further
Osborne was shell shocked at Buona Vista on 15.2.1942 but remained on duty.

Please read further about ‘F; Force Thailand.

Soldier marched into Shimo Sonkurai with malaria and dysentery but recovered well. Captain George Gwynne spoke to soldier on his way up to Tanbaya in Burma. At the time soldier was at Kami Sonkurai (24.8.1943) and Captain Gwynne recalled that he appeared to be well.

 

WX9287 John Robert (Bob) OSBORNE born 1915 Bruce Rock was eldest of five children born to John and Alice Osborne (nee Aldrich). Victorian born John and Alice were married Daylesford 1914 before moving to WA where they took up farming land at Belka, Bruce Rock.
POW Bob left Singapore by train to work Thai-Burma Railway April 1943 with ‘F’ Force. This Force endured shocking conditions – they faced starvation, working long hours like slaves, beatings and tropical illnesses resulting in a high death rate.
Those still living, returned to Changi at end of 1943.
At 28 years, Bob died of pneumonia on 27 September 1945 at Kami Sonkurai Camp, Thailand.   After the war he was laid to rest at Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, Myanmar (was Burma).

 

Osborne neices Lisa & Rosemary

Above:  Neices Lisa and Rosemary attended the 75th Service for the Fall of Singapore held Sunday 12 February 2017.
Their uncle John aged 28 years,  died 27 Sep 1943 of pneumonia, Kami Sonkarui, Thailand.

 

Osborne, Robert
Osborne, Robert

 

 

Please read about the other boys from Bruce Rock

Below:  the tragic news for Bob’s parents.

 

 

Bob Osborne’ names is included on the Merredin WW2 War Memorial.
John’s parents John Osborne and Alice Aldrich were born Victoria and married Daylesford, Victoria in 1914.  It is not known when John and Alice moved to WA.
John was the eldest born at Bruce Rock.  He had one sister Ailsa and three brothers William Thomas, Allan Stanley, Raymond James. The family remained living at Bruce Rock.
John Osborne (Snr) died at Belka (Bruce Rock area) in 1949 aged of 70 years.  Alice Osborne died in 1966 aged 78 years.  They are both buried at Bruce Rock cemetery.

 

A younger brother of Alice,  Harold Edward Aldrich born in 1901 Victoria, enlisted  WW2 at Toowoomba, Qld,  died aged 44 years, 26 July 1945 at Singapore and was buried at Kranji War Cemetery.

 

 

Alice also endured the death of another two brothers during WW1  
John Thomas Aldrich died 17 January 1917 at the Somme, and buried at Picardie, France.
William Allen  Aldrich died 4 July 1918 at Strazeelz near the Belgium Border. 
 

Alice Osborne (nee Aldrich)

For Alice to endure the death of her first born son, John Robert Osborne at Singapore must have been unbearable. Her husband John Osborne died in 1949.   Her father James Grant Aldrich died Ballarat, Victoria two years previously, in 1947.

 

Camp Locations:

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  • Johore Bahru, - Malaysia
  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
  • Kami Songkurai, 299k - Thailand
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