Richard George Graham OSBORN

Year of Birth: 1924

Place of Birth: Mackay, Queensland, Australia

Date of Enlistment: 10 July 1943, Warwick, Queensland, Australia

Australian Defence Force: Australian Imperial Force

Rank: Private

Unit(s): 13 Army Ordnance Depot, Australian Army Ordnance Corps

Service Number: QX54978

Died: 20 July 1946

Age: 22 years

Buried: Cairns War Cemetery – Plot B –  Row A – Grave 19

”Greater Love Hath No Man Than This”
Richard Osborn - Photo Daily Mercury Mackay 19 September 1944

Charles Richard Hoskin (Richard) and Marion Christina, nee Ness, Osborn had three children, Charles Alexander (Jack) Osborn, Richard George Graham Osborn and Marion Harriet Osborn.

Richard George Graham Osborn, known as Graham, was born on the 25 June 1924 in Mackay.

The family lived at Sarina, and he was employed at the Plane Creek Mill, a sugar mill, at Mackay.

Graham first enlisted in the Citizens Military Force (CMF) on 23 July 1942 after he passed his medical examination at Sarina. His height was 5 feet 8 inches, grey eyes, dark complexion with brown hair, aged 18 years. He lists his occupation as a labourer and he gave his mother, Mrs. Marion Osborn, as his next of kin. 

At the time of his enlistment his father Richard, a World War One veteran, had also joined the C.M.F. and his brother Gunner Charles (Jack) Osborn was serving in the Australian Army overseas.

During the following months Graham received training in many sections of the army at Glen Innes, Grovely, Chermside, Woolloongabba and Warwick. While at Warwick Private Richard George Graham Osborn Q268709, was approved for full time war duties in January 1943.

In December Private R.G.G. Osborn QX 54978, after more training at Canungra, boarded at Townsville the Thomas Corwin to Lae where he served in the 2/12 Infantry Battalion. The battalion fought in the Netherlands East Indies islands including New Guinea, Morotia Island and Borneo.  In November 1945 while in Balikpapan, Borneo, Graham was transferred to the 2/16 Infantry Battalion who formed part of the occupation force in the Celebes.

On returning to Australia in February 1946, Graham was again transferred, this time to the 13 Australian Advanced Ordinance Depot in Far North Queensland.

Private Richard Osborn was killed on the Gillies Highway when the truck he was driving left the road and crashed.

 

Richard George Graham Osborn’s name is on Sarina Roll of Honour board and also located at panel 90; Supplementary panel 10 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial.

Online Resources

NAA: B883, (OSBORN Richard George Graham) National Archives of Australia

Australian War Memorial

Department Veterans’ Affairs Nominal Rolls

National Library of Australia: Trove Digitised Newspapers

Queensland Registrar of Births Deaths & Marriages

If you have a photograph or further information about this soldier you would like to share and add to his biography, please contact the Society at projects@cdfhs.org or leave a comment below. Thank you!

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