Medals from the Collection of the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum, Part 6

Special Reserve L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (6461 Pte. G. Osborne. 3/Oxf: & Bucks. L.I.) toned, nearly extremely fine £300-£400 --- Approximately 8 Special Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medals awarded to the 3rd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. George Osborne was born on 1 December 1875, at Bloxham, Oxfordshire. He enlisted into the Oxford Light Infantry (Special Reserve), at the age of 32, on 14 June 1908, and declared prior service with the 2nd Dragoon Guards, and the 4th Battalion, Oxfordshire Light Infantry, in which he was still serving. Having served in the South African War he received the Queen’s South Africa Medal with three clasps and the King’s South Africa Medal with two clasps. He was awarded his Special Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in April 1911. Following the outbreak of the Great War Osborne re-enlisted into the 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, and was employed as an Officer’s servant to Major-General Earl Fitzwilliam, K.C.V.O., D.S.O., serving on the Western Front from 5 October 1914, and latterly with H.Q.,19 Corps. He was posted to England for Munitions work in January 1918, and the following year volunteered for active service with the Army Service Corps, for the North Russia Relief Force, disembarking at Murmansk on 19 September 1919. He was posted to Popoff on 10 September 1919, and was evacuated to the U.K. on H.M. Transport Schleswig on 2 October 1919, transferring to the Army Reserve on 17 January 1920.