Five: Ship’s Cook J. G. Osborne, Merchant Navy

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Pacific Star, clasp, Burma; War Medal 1939-45, in their original (damaged) card forwarding box addressed to ‘John Osborne, 59 Hendrefoilan Road, Sketty, Swansea, Glamorganshire’, and ink inscription on side ‘51379’, extremely fine (5) £60-80

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards for the 1939-45 War.

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John G. Osborne, who was born in Swansea in November 1924, commenced his career in the Merchant Navy as a Cabin Boy in November 1941. Joining the S.S. Beckenham as an Assistant Steward in April 1942, he remained actively employed in the same ship until August 1945, ultimately as Ship’s Cook, a period of service that won him the rare distinction of three clasps to his campaign awards. The Beckenham, a cargo liner of Watts, Watts & Co. Limited, was mined and damaged off Libya on 23 March 1943. Osborne was invalided from the Merchant Navy on account of ill-health in August 1949; sold with copied Merchant Navy service record and medal roll verification for all of his Medals and clasps (issue No. 51379).