John Eyles Osborn

Rank 
Second Lieutenant
Regiment 
Royal Air Force
Date of death 
22 December 1918
Age of death 
31
Address 
Copley Dene
Chelmsford Road
South Woodford
Woodford
Essex
E18 2PW
Address source 
1911 Census
Cemetery / Memorial 
United Kingdom
Biography 

Born in 1887 at Woodford, son of Thomas Lewin (Builder) and Amelia Osborn. 1891: With his family at Woodford High Road near St Mary’s Church. 1901: A Scholar with his family at “Copley Dene” Chelmsford Road, South Woodford. 1911: A Builders Assistant, still with his family at “Copley Dene” Chelmsford Road. He became a Carpenter and Joiner.

He enlisted as a Mechanic in the Royal Naval Air Service 6th December 1915 for hostilities only, and while notionally attached to the accounting centre “HMS President 2”, was trained at Dover. He was posted at a seaplane base, and then allocated to stores duty as a temporary Warrant Officer 2 on 3rd March 1917. He performed duty on HMS Campania, which was an ocean liner converted into an early aircraft carrier. He became a Temporary 2nd Lt on 1st January 1918, and kept his rank on transfer to the new Royal Air Force on 1st April 1918.

He died from Meningitis at Lightburn Hospital in Glasgow.

Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian

Sources:

Ancestry.com

Service Files