Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Francis Ernest (Frank) Osborn was born on the 15th of April 1888 to Joseph Rowe Osborn and Mary Jane Turnbull Stewart, (SA Birth Registration 416/83). Joseph (Joe) was instrumental in the creation of the SAFA (South Australian Football Association) which became the SANFL and was a co-founder of the Norwood Football Club. He was the Clubs first Captain and captained Norwood to three consecutive premierships (1878-80). Joe was a teetotaller and director of Thomas Hardy and owned a stable of prize-winning horses. In 1912, Joe sold his stable of horses and purchased the property at McLaren Vale now the home of the d’Arenberg Winery.

Schooling

From 1904, Frank attended Prince Alfred College, Adelaide where he passed his Junior Examinations in 1905 and Senior Examinations in 1906 and 1907.

Frank played Inter-collegiate Football for PAC against C.B.C., Roseworthy Agricultural College, Melbourne Scotch College and St Peter’s College in 1906 and Inter-collegiate Football for PAC against Roseworthy Agricultural College, Melbourne Scotch College and St Peter’s College in 1907. He also played in a PAC match against Mt Barker in 1907.

Frank played cricket for PAC and was a member of the 1st XI team from 1905 to 1907. In February 1905 he was a member of the PAC cricket team which played a match against an un-official Adelaide University Eleven.

Most of the PAC team members would go on and play with University. Charles Dolling would be the first captain of the AUCC when they were admitted to the SACA competition at the start of the 1908/9 Season.
In 1906, Frank played for the current boys in the annual Past v Present match and in the Inter-Collegiate match against St Peter’s. He won the First Eleven Bowling prize in 1906.

In the 1907/08 season he played B Grade District Cricket for PAC and Inter-Collegiate Cricket against St Peter’s, winning a Gold Medal for Cricket from PAC in December 1907. Frank’s statistics for the 1907/08 season were: Batting 10 Innings, 246 runs with a High Score of 107 and an average of 24.6. and Bowling 84 overs, 24 maidens, 263 runs, 8 wickets with an average of 32.9.

Frank also competed in the Inter-Collegiate Sports in 1906 & 1907 and was on the Committee to manage the 1907 PAC Swimming Competition.

Frank was in the Commonwealth Cadet Corp for 3½ years and rose to the rank of Lieutenant.

While at University Frank also competed for the PAC Old Collegian team in the Past v Present cricket match in 1910. Frank was on the committee of the PAC Old Collegian’s Association from September 1909 to September 1911.

Adelaide University

Frank studied medicine at Adelaide University from 1908-10.

In 1910, Frank was secretary to the committee who organised the first Adelaide University medical student’s ball. In March 1911, Frank left for Melbourne where he intended continuing his medical studies. However, by early 1913 Frank had given up his studies and joined his father on the land, becoming a vigneron at McLaren Vale.

University Sport

Frank played A Grade District Cricket for Adelaide University from 1908/09 until the 1910/11 seasons. His statistics for the 1908/09 season were - Batting – 8 innings, 78 runs, high score of 37 and an average of 9.75 and Bowling 61.1 overs, 6 maidens, 238 runs, 6 wickets and an average of 39.66. For the 1909/10 season Frank’s statistics are below.

Frank was a member of the first Intervarsity Cricket team which played against Sydney University in December 1910.


Post-University
From 1913, Frank was on the land at McLaren Vale, SA and in May 1913, Frank purchased a 12 h.p. De Dion car. Frank exhibited birds in the McLaren Vale Poultry Show in July 1913 and 1914.

World War I

On the 2nd of August 1915, Frank enlisted as a Private, he was 27 years and four months old, 5’7¾”, and weighed 178 lbs. From the 1st of September 1915 to the 15th of October 1915 Frank was at N.C.O. School and from the 16th to the 31st of October, he attended Officers School. Frank was with the 2/32nd Battalion in November 1915 and the 9/27th Battalion from the 1st of December 1915 to mid-January 1916. On the 20th of January 1916, Frank received his Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 43rd Battalion AIF. Frank embarked onboard the HMAT A19 Afric on the 9th of June 1916. Frank served in France and was promoted to Lieutenant.

Unfortunately, the rigors of war adversely impacted on Frank’s health, exacerbating the rheumatism he had suffered from since childhood. After many periods of illness Frank returned to Australia on board HMAT A71 Nestor, disembarking at Adelaide on the 21st of September 1917. He was discharged from the AIF on the 9th of November 1917.

Post-War Life

On the 24th of June 1920, Francis Ernest Osborn married Frances Helena d’Arenberg (born 26 Sep 1895) at St Peter’s College Chapel, Hackney. Known as Helena, she was the only daughter of F.A. d’Arenberg Esq., M.A., and Mrs. d’Arenberg, of North Unley, and granddaughter of the late Rev. Francis Williams, M.A., one-time head master of St Peter’s College.

Frank and Helena’s first child, a daughter, Jane Antoinette (known as Antoinette) was born in 1921.

In May 1921, Frank’s father Joseph Rowe Osborn passed away, aged 69, leaving Frank in full control of the family business.

Sadly, in October 1923, Helena’s father (F.A. d’Arenberg Esq., M.A., a former Adelaide University lecturer, well known tutor and lawyer) died.

In 1924, Frank and Helena’s first son, Rowen Frederick, was born and in November 1924, the family holidayed at Henley Beach.

In December 1924, Frank and Helena’s second son, Francis d’Arenberg (d’Arry) was born, but tragically on the 27th of December 1924, a few days after d’Arry’s birth, Helena passed away, aged only 29. She was buried at Nailsworth (North Road) Cemetery, Adelaide.

Frank was elected to the South Ward of the Noarlunga Council and served in that role for many years. In 1927, the winery was built at ‘Bundarra’. Frank was an active member of the R.S.S.I.L.A (later RSA and RSL) and he was a member of State Board of R.S.L. (Vice-President) 1934-37 and a long-time member of Legacy. He was President of the McLaren Vale RSA for many years and in August 1928, he was thanked for his hospitality and interest in RSA affairs and was presented with a gold cigarette case, suitably inscribed. He also attended 43rd Battalion reunions. For sport, Frank played golf at McLaren Vale.

In 1933, ‘Yeoman’ wrote an article entitled ‘McLaren Vale – Land of vineyards and orchards’ for the Chronicle which included the following excerpt on Frank. (see document).

In December 1949, Frank was appointed to the Land Appeal Board (Southern).

Both Rowen and d’Arry followed their father to Prince Alfred College. In 1943, due to a decline in Frank’s health, d’Arry (aged 16) left school and joined the family business. After WWII, Frank often appeared in the paper hosting parties for his three children.

Antoinette left in January 1948 to spend 10 months in London, staying with her cousin, Mrs. E.F. Kelly. She later lived in Rangoon, Bangkok.

Rowen became a member of the Australian Diplomatic Corp and was posted to Karachi from the early 1950’s. In December 1952, he returned to Australia, visiting his sister in Rangoon on the journey home. He was then posted to Canberra. Antoinette holidayed in Australia in 1954 before returning to Rangoon in late July. She later married Pat Bourne and lived in England.

Death

Frank passed away on the 3rd of August 1957, aged 69 and is buried with Helena at Nailsworth (North Road) Cemetery, Adelaide. After Frank’s death, d’Arry took full control of the business and in 1959 he launched the d’Arenberg brand, named in his mother memory. d’Arry was later joined by his son Chester who became Chief Winemaker in 1984.

Further Family Details

http://www.darenberg.com.au/family-history

Authors: EE (Beth) Filmer & Rob O'Shannassy

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (in the period 2015-2019) please see the document attached.