Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Desmond Eric Osborne, (Des) was born at Pinnaroo, SA on the 12th January 1920, being the eldest son of Eric and Ellen, and siblings Glen and Garth.
The family moved to Stirling, where they lived on a property near Desmond’s paternal grandparents and aunties.
Desmond attended school at the Queens College where he completed most of his schooling and the Kalangadoo Primary School from February 1933 to December 1933.
The Family moved to the South East in the early thirties, taking up farming on Section 67 and Section 922 Hundred of grey.
Desmond left school at the age of 14 years to work for local farmers for 10 shillings to one pound.
On the 12th May 1939 Desmond joined the 3rd Light Horse at Mount Gambier aged 18 years. His favourite horse was named Sox, and the pay rate was five shillings for soldiers and eight shillings for the horse per day.
On the 29th of February 1940 being a Leap Year saw Desmond depart by train to Adelaide to enlist with the 2/10th Australian Infantry Battalion on the 2nd March 1940.
The 2/10th Battalion was the first South Australian battalion formed for the Second AIF.
Initial training for Private Osborne took place at Woodside in the Adelaide Hills, with further training in NSW. The 2/10th embarked for the Middle East on the 5th May 1940 as part of the 18th Brigade, of the 6th Australian Division.
En route to the Middle East, the 18th Brigade was diverted to the United Kingdom to bolster its defences following the fall of France.
The 2/10th disembarked at Gourock in Scotland on the 18th June and was subsequently based at Lapcombe Corner, near Salisbury, in England.
Private Osborne was admitted to Tidsworth Hospital on the 14th August 1940, before transferring to Westbury Convalescent Hospital suffering Appendicitis. After convalescing for two months he returned to his unit on the 29th October 1940.
The battalion left the United Kingdom on board H.M.T.L.13 from the Port of Glasgow on the 17th November 1940 for the Middle East.
The 18th Brigade took part in the defence of Tobruk until it was withdrawn at the end of August 1940. After Tobruk, the 2/10th trained in Palestine and between late September 1941 and early January 1942 formed part of the garrisoning Syria.
On the 11th February Private Osborne embarked on the M.E. NieuwAmsterdam and transferred to the HMT Nevasa at Bombay, finally disembarking in Adelaide on the 29th March 1942.
The first of June 1942 Private Osborne was successfully graded as a Group 2 Signaller.
Papua New Guinea was the 2/10th’s next battleground and the battles it fought there were its most bitter and costly. Private Osborne arrived at Milne Bay on the 14th August 1942 and on the night of the 27th August the battalion was overwhelmed by Japanese marines in a confused battle. The battalion fared even worse in its next engagement - Buna. Between 23rd December and the 2nd January the 2/10th lost 113 men killed and 205 wounded in often ill-conceived attacks against Japanese bunkers around the old airstrip.
Private Osborne was detached to the 2/9th on the 24th October 1942 and returning to the 2/10th on the 29th October 1942.
The 2/10th final engagement in Papua New Guinea was at Sanananda between the 9th and 24th January 1943. However Private Osborne contracted Malaria on the 19th January 1943 and evacuated to the 2/1 Australian Corps Recovery Camp. Embarking on the Katoomba at Port Moresby on the 16th March 1943, returning to Townsville on the 20th March 1943
The 2/10th returned to Port Moresby in early August 1943, for training. Private Osborne was detached to the 7th Division in November 1943. Throughout late December 1943 and into January 1944 heavy fighting took place during the Battle of Shaggy Ridge. By February, following an attack on Crater Hill, the main Japanese positions had been captured
Private Osborne embarked on the Taroona at Port Moresby on the 20th April 1944, for the 1/2 Australian General Hospital for observation due to mild concussion. Upon release Private Osborne rejoined the 2/10th
During extended leave, Private Osborne became engaged to Patricia Dignan in June 1944.
The 2/10th spent a year training before undertaking its final operation of war.
27th November 1944 saw Private Osborne appointed Lance Corporal and on the 16th May 1945 he was promoted to acting Corporal.
Corporal Osborne embarked from Cairns via the LST 694 to arrive at Morotai. Followed by the LST 632 for service at Balikpapan in Borneo where the battalion stormed the heights of Parramatta Ridge. In ensuing days it cleared the Japanese from in and around Balikpapan town, and was withdrawn into reserve on the 6th July. It did not carry out another active role before the war ended on the 15th August 1945.
Corporal Osborne returned to Australia in November 1945, where he was discharged on the 30th November 1945.
Corporal Osborne served a total of 2100 days, which included, 666 days Active service in Australia and 1355 days active service overseas.
Corporal Desmond Osborne was awarded the following War Medals
African Star
1935/45 Star
Pacific Star
War Medal
Australian War Medal
Patricia and Desmond married in 1946 and took over their soldier’s settler farm Section 547, 548 Hundred of Grey and Section 209 Hundred of Riddoch near Kalangadoo in 1950. They lived in a corrugated iron shed with Michael born (1947), Louise (1949), until the house was ready in 1952. Patrice (1953), and Richard (1955) were born and Rosemary in 1960.
On the farm Des bred Hereford cattle and Corriedale sheep. He tolerated cattle and was fond of the sheep appreciating the wool that was yielded. Most years he topped the market with his crossbred wool.
Each winter the farm was blessed with a 200 acre swamp which attracted ample bird life. Trespassers with the mad idea that they could hunt down swans, ducks or their eggs were confronted with the sight of a roaring buck-board Bradford and an equally fuming environmentalist who would jump from the ute and fire the twelve gauge shotgun into the air. They never returned.
Des loved water, he was one of the first Kalangadoo soldier settlers to install irrigation. He spent countless hours shifting the pipes simply because he could, often helped by his son Richard.
He invented ways to create geyers and waterfalls anywhere and would stand for ages watching the water flow. He would often call the children out to view his water creations. Patricia (mum) would be terrified with just cause that some of the Tiger snake population would also be in the audience.
Des was an early riser and hard worker all his life. However, while on the farm Wednesday mornings were the exception to the rule. The Kalangadoo RSL men met on Tuesday evenings, and Des being barman was always the last to leave. The only medication Des ever took willingly was two Aspirins on a Wednesday morning.
Des’s community involvement while living on the farm was member of the Kalangadoo Institute Committee. Helping with the construction of the Kalangadoo Bowling Green, maintenance of Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church. C.F.S. volunteer at Mt. McIntyre, Des was known as the Mount McIntyre Mechanical Service. He was constantly repairing diesel tractors, cars, motor bikes and machinery for neighbours.
Patricia and Des sold the farm property in 1974 and moved to Mount Gambier. Des purchased an undeveloped property at Kongorong where he spent his days fencing, rock clearing and breeding Herefords.
They shifted to Donovan’s in 1981, Des quickly found his niche in community service with the Donovan’s Progress Association. He had several ride on mowers and he mowed large tracts of land including steep riverbanks, and the oval. He joined the local CFS known colloquially as “Dads Army”. The Progress Association entered the Tidy Town award and won Tidiest Town in SA in 1990.
Easter 1997, Pat & Des decided to move to Mt. Barker, Pat put her foot down and said Des had to sell his BMW1000 bike. At 77 he reluctantly agreed. He had enjoyed many country rides with his brother in law Lawrie, they traversed numerous pine forests and back roads of the South East and Western Victoria.
Des wasn’t going to succumb to retirement. After meeting St. Vinnies volunteers Des became the young furniture removalist. Pat & Des have made many wonderful friendships amongst the St Vinnies volunteers.
Des’s interests included wood turning, vegetable gardening (you can’t eat flowers) and watching old movies, especially westerns.
He lived by the motto never leave for tomorrow what you can do today.
Des didn’t hold any grudges or animosity post-war, and his thoughts and actions often reflected the futility of war.
A lovely young German family moved to Kalangadoo in the 1960’s and Pat & Des were welcoming and friendly towards them.
Des was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend to many
Desmond Eric Osborne passed away on the 6th November 2005 aged 85 years and was cremated at Centennial Park Crematorium.

A Brave Soldier at Rest
Lest We Forget