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It has not been possible as at October 2010 to determine the age of this casualty-only the birth certificate will provide proof and there are two births recorded of a Frank Osborne. It is possible Frank  was untruthful about his age and as none of his family lived in Australia, he could not provide, at enlistment, any approval by his parents that he could enlist.

Sources consulted include the 1901 and 1911 Census, the NAA, CWGC, the Rushden Heritage web site and the AIF Project but none are conclusive.

CWGC have his age as 26 when killed but only a little over a year earlier, at attestation, [February 1916] he claimed to be 19 years and 5 months.

He was a son of William James and Emma Osborne, of Court Estate, Newton Rd., Rushden, England.

Births Dec 1893   OSBORNE Frank Peterbro' 3b 242
Births Sep 1899   Osborne Frank Peterbro' 3b 232
 

England and Wales Census, 1901- Winchester Road, Rushden

All occupants born in Earls Barton, Northamptonshire.

Wm James Osborne  Head 44- William was "living on his own means".

Emma Osborne  Wife 44

Arthur Osborne  Son 15

Florrie Osborne  Daughter 12

Frank Osborne Son 9

1911 census

William Jas Osborne Head 54 Bozeat,  Northamptonshire

Emma Osborne  Wife 54 Earls Barton Northamptonshire

Arthur Osborne Son 26 Earls Barton Northamptonshire

Florence Osborne Daughter 22 Earls Barton Northamptonshire

Frank Osborne Son-Occupation – Bootmaker 19 Earls Barton Northamptonshire

Frank went to live in Rushden as a small boy. He emigrated aged 17, and enlisted at Warruambool, Victoria, Australia.
His family back in England moved up to the Court Estate part of Newton Road. ['Peacehaven']

When Frank enlisted on 24th February 1916, aged 19 years and 5 months, he was in Warruambool, Victoria, Australia, and claimed that he had been born at Rushden. He left via Alexandria on 6th June 1916 and landed at Plymouth, England on the 16th, for training at Camp 28, Lark Hill, Salisbury Plain. He went to France on the 12th of September 1916 where he joined the 29th Battalion ten days later. On 17th December he was hospitalised with diarrhoea and was discharged back to duty on the fourth day. But on the following day he was admitted again as a casualty. He was granted leave to England from the 1st - 14th September 1917, and a month later he was killed in action, and initially buried at Molenaarlens Hock, Broodseinde Ridge; grave subsequently lost.

His mother signed for his effects on 28th March 1918.

The Rushden Echo Friday 2 November 1917, transcribed by Nicky Bates

Rushden Soldier's Death - Private Frank Osborne - Formerly of the Rushden Court Estate

We regret to record the death in action of Pte Frank Osborne, aged 26, of the Australian Contingent. The deceased was the youngest son of Mr Wm James Osborne, dairyman, etc, of the Court Estate, Newton-road, Rushden. As a boy the deceased was a scholar in the Newton-road Council School, Rushden, and he also attended the Park-road Wesleyan Sunday school and the Band of Hope. After leaving school he worked for a time at Mr C Horrell's factory, and was subsequently employed by Messrs. Robinson Brothers, Roberts Street. Then he had 18 months' training on the land preparatory to going to Australia. On October 12th, 1914, he went to Victoria, Australia, to take up an appointment on a dairy farm, about 170 miles from Melbourne, and it is a sad coincidence that it was three years afterwards to the day that he met his death.

On February 28th, 1916, he joined the Australian Contingent. A month later he was sent to Egypt, and subsequently he was brought to England for further training on Salisbury Plain. He then saw 14 months' service on the Western Front, and he reached Rushden on September 3rd last on ten days' leave - the first he had had since going out to the Front. He went back on September 12th, to meet his death a month later. The late Pte Osborne was not married. Lieut H. S. Gray, Officer Commanding Pte Osborne's Company, has sent the following letter to the deceased soldier's mother:-

"Belgium, October 19th, 1917. Dear Mrs Osborne, - It is my painful duty to write to you and inform you of the death of your son, No. 2971, Pte F Osborne, of my Company. He was killed in action on October 12th, in Flanders. It may be some little consolation to you to know that he suffered no pain at all, and he fell while doing his duty. He was a runner in the Company, and was one of the bravest and most fearless fellows I ever knew. He was admired by all with whom he came in contact, and he is sadly missed throughout the whole battalion, as he was most popular with officers and men alike. He is buried somewhere near where he fell, and I have had a cross erected over his grave. It is hard that one so young and bright should be taken from you in the prime of life, but he died a hero's death, fighting for his country and the right. No man can do more than this. All the Company join with me in offering you our deepest sympathy. -Yours on duty, H. S. Gray, Lieut."

The services of the late Pte Osborne as a "runner" were highly valued, as he showed unusual abilities in this capacity, being able to find trenches, etc, in the dark. The deceased soldier's parents, Mr and Mrs W J Osborne, removed to the Court Estate in 1904, having formerly lived in Winchester-road, Rushden, and before that in Earls Barton. Sympathetic reference to the death of Pte Osborne was made at the Park-road Wesleyan Church on Sunday. At the meeting of the Rushden Wesleyan Guild on Tuesday evening it was decided to send an expression of sympathy to Miss Florrie Osborne (the deceased soldier's sister), who is a member of the Guild.

The Rushden Echo Friday 9 November 1917, transcribed by Nicky Bates

Rushden Victim of the War - The Late Frank Osborne - Officer's Tribute

Mr W J Osborne, dairyman, of the Court Estate, Newton-road, Rushden, has now received official confirmation of the sad news of the death of his younger son, Pte Frank Osborne, of the Australian Contingent.

Miss F Osborne, sister of the deceased soldier has received the following letter from Lieut Gray, of the same Company:-"In the field, October 29th, 1917:-

Dear Miss Osborne - Your letter of Oct. 25 just to hand. I will be only too pleased to get one of your brother's mates to write to your mother. You asked for any further particulars of Frank's death. Well, he being a runner, he was always near me. He had been out on different runs during that morning, and the shelling was very severe. As he came in from the last run I remarked to him that he must have had a bad run, but he made very light of it, and said he would never be hit. Later on, when the shelling had practically ceased, he went out again, having to go only thirty yards. He had just gone about ten yards outside my dug-out, when a chance shell killed him and his best friend, Lance-Corporal Stephenson. Everyone admired Frank, and there was no-one in the whole battalion who was more popular. He had a very winning way about him, and was always the first to oblige in anything. I always admired him for his bright, jolly manner, and his ready will. I never met anyone who was as fearless as he; I had remarked on it many times and he took a keen delight in all his work. I suppose most people think that all men are alike to their officers, but I can assure you that such is not the case and I knew Frank to be one of the very best. This death caused me more sorrow than any other we have had in the company, and I know what a terrible blow, it must have been to his loved ones. If there is anything else I could do in any way, I would be only too pleased  to be of assistance to you. - Again expressing my deepest sympathy, I remain, yours on duty, H. S. Gray."