Mar 22, 1863

Born in Chesterfield, Kent, England

Nov 5, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59767 (temporary number 329)

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. Annie Williams, Cobourg, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Gardiner

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to “C” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “B” Company

On attesting he lied about his age, stating he had been born March 22, 1871 instead of his actual birth year of 1863.

The 21^st Battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area through the winter of 1914-15.

Jan 28, 1915

Admitted to Kingston hospital with a diagnosis that reads Pleurisy

Feb 7, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

An interesting comment about the early days on page 38 of Ordinary Heroes,
the history of the 21^st Battalion by Stephen Nichol

Feb 21, 1916

Granted 9 days leave

Mar 3, 1916

Rejoined the battalion resting in Ridgewood, Belgium from leave

Aug 23, 1916

Transferred to the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France after being classified TB (Temporary Base) meaning he was temporarily unfit for front line duty

He was admitted to the No. 2 General Hospital in Havre

Aug 31, 1916

Proceeded to England and transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) in Folkestone

Sep 5, 1916

Medical report notes

Ø  Man is over age and suffers from Myalgia

Ø  He unable to keep up when marching to the trenches

Ø  His Myalgia is due to the conditions at the front

Ø  He has some deafness in his left ear

Ø  He is not very strongly built

Ø  He cannot raise his right arm above his head

Ø  Board recommends he be discharged from service

Sep 10, 1916

Admitted to the West Cliff Eye and Ear Hospital in Folkestone with a diagnosis that reads Pyorrhoea

Medical examiner at West Cliff notes that he had “suffered chronic catarrhal in his middle ear, but has been treated.  His hearing is ok now, but active service conditions will aggravate the this and on account of his age, I consider him unfit for service”

Sep 23, 1916

Discharged to duty from hospital

Sep 28, 1916

Attached to the CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) in Bath pending return to Canada

Oct 18, 1916

Discharged from the CEF in Shoreham, England

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “A”

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Cherry Cottage, Otford Lane, Halstead, Kent, England

Following the end of the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 3 Beadnell Road, Forest Hill, London, England

Robert Fuller Osborne died in March of 1937 in Sevenoaks, Kent, England