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Auction: 24001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 229

Three: Lieutenant-Colonel J. Osburne, Royal Army Medical Corps, late Army Medical Department

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 3 clasps, Tel-El-Kebir, Suakin 1885, Tofrek (Surgeon. J. Osburne. A. M. Dept.); Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (Lt. Col. J. Osburne. R.A.M.C.); Khedive's Star 1884, unnamed as issued, mounted as worn, pitting to first, edge bruise to second, overall good very fine (3)

Approximately 7 Surgeons earned the 'Tofrek' clasp.

John Osburne was born at Lindville, Blackrock, Cork, Ireland on 31 July 1856, the son of John and Katherine Osburne. Qualifying as a Surgeon, Osburne joined the Army Medical Service on 5 February 1881 and is recorded living at 26 London Road, Pembroke St. Mary, Pembroke, Wales in the census the next month. Posted to Egypt he was present for the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir in September of that year and is listed as Surgeon Major on 5 February 1893.

Oddly however when Osburne appears on the roll for the Battle of Tofrek, having returned to Egypt and thence to Sudan in 1885, it is as a Surgeon. The roll includes one Surgeon-Major, Fleming, and seven Surgeons, including Osburne.

He was still in service with the Royal Army Medical Corps on the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War and embarked for South Africa on 21 January 1900. Serving at No. 6 General Hospital in Johannesburg until 29 May 1901, he was invalided from the country. Once back in England he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 20 July 1901.

Osburne retired on 11 January 1902 and although despite being on the retired list he was employed at Galway between 1904-1916; sold together with copied research including census data, medal rolls and a photograph.

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Sold for
£950

Starting price
£700