Name
Ernest Frederick Osman
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/12/1917
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
2247
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
18th (Service) Bn. (1st Public Works Pioneers)
'C' Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POTIJZE CHATEAU GROUNDS CEMETERY
Plot I, Row E, Grave 5.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Printers Memorial, Watford, Sun Engraving Company Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of James John and Elizabeth (nee BLACKWELL) OSMAN; husband of Catherine PAMMENT (formerly OSMAN, nee HOLDEN) of Peckham, London.
His parents married 13 May 1883 at Holy Trinity, Newington, London. Elizabeth died 19 February 1929 in Catford, Kent, aged 69, and was buried 23 February in Nunhead Cemetery, London; James died 20 March 1947 in Clevedon, Somerset, aged 86.
Ernest was born 1890 in Bermondsey, Surrey, and baptised 23 February 1890 at St James’, Bermondsey. He married 26 May 1916 at St Mark’s, Camberwell, London. Catherine remarried 3 January 1920 at St Andrew’s, Peckham, to Sidney W PAMMENT, and died 1979 in the Merton, Surrey, district aged 86.
On the 1891 Census, aged 1 he lived in Bermondsey, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1901 Census, aged 11 he still lived in Bermondsey, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1911 Census, an unemployed machine minder aged 21, he lived in Catford, with his parents and one sibling.
Wartime Service
He attested 31 August 1914 in London for Short Service (3 Years with the Colours) in the Middlesex Regiment: a printer aged 24, 5’8¾” tall, C of E.
He served at Home until 28 December 1914 and went to France with the B.E.F. 29 December 1914 until 27 January 1915; Home 28 January to 31 March 1915; back to France 1 April until 1 July 1916.
Whilst in France he was in confinement awaiting trial 10 March 1916, and was tried by F.G.C.M. at Laventie 17 March 1916 and convicted of when on active service disobeying a lawful command; sentenced to undergo 28 days Field Punishment no. 1. He was wounded in action 2 July 1916 with gun shot wounds to both legs and shoulder, and was transferred to England on the S.S. Cambria 7 July where he was admitted to Hospital until 1 August 1916.
He returned to France 15 September 1916; was appointed unpaid Lance-Corporal 1 November 1916 and Corporal 16 August 1917.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 29 December 1914, and was killed in action.
Additional Information
Recorded as Private on the Watford Printers' Memorial. His headstone inscription reads: "REST IN PEACE".
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
