Henry Willcox Osburn

Captain (retired) Henry Willcox Osburn (30 October, 1874 – 7 January, 1957) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

The son of a Royal Navy Officer.

Osburn was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1896.

Osburn was appointed in command of the destroyer Flirt on 16 October, 1901.

Osburn was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1907 and appointed as executive officer in second class protected cruiser Arrogant on 10 September, 1907. The following month, Osburn helped rescue the crew of S.S. Leon XIII in heavy weather.

Upon leaving the ship in September, 1908, Osburn received a curiously balanced review from Captain Ralph Hudleston of the Arrogant which noted that Osburn was "a capable executive officer who has brought the ship from a dirty condition into a clean & creditable state, but who on the occasion of [illeg] being compelled to issue a disagreeable order which retained most of the officers and all the men on board (i.e., from a long leave) for refitting the ship at Haulbowline failed to support me in my duty & applied to be placed on half pay." This stint at half pay would last three months.

Great War

Osburn was appointed in command of the scout cruiser Sentinel on 14 August, 1914.

In January 1916 he was stricken with influenza and was not again fit until 21 March.

Osburn was appointed in command of the monitor Prince Rupert on 16 May, 1917.

On 12 March, 1918, he took over the duties of Senior Naval Officer, Tees.

Post-War

On 22 April, 1919, Osburn was appointed in command of the light cruiser Birkenhead.

He was thanked by the Air Council for his help, as Acting C.O., Humber Area, in connection with the salvage operations of the wrecked airship R 38.

Osburn was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Captain on 29 July, 1922.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Theobald W. B. Kennedy	Captain of H.M.S. Kestrel Aug, 1901 – 27 Aug, 1901	Succeeded by Vernon S. Rashleigh
Preceded by Francis H. Mitchell	Captain of H.M.S. Fawn 27 Aug, 1901 – 16 Oct, 1901	Succeeded by Robert W. Myburgh
Preceded by Michael H. Hodges	Captain of H.M.S. Flirt 16 Oct, 1901 – 22 Feb, 1902	Succeeded by Brian H. F. Barttelot
Preceded by Horace W. Longden	Captain of H.M.S. Zephyr 22 Feb, 1902 – 30 Apr, 1902	Succeeded by George N. Ballard
Preceded by Frederick H. Hallowes	Captain of H.M.S. Wizard 11 Jun, 1902 – 1 Oct, 1902	Succeeded by Robert W. Myburgh
Preceded by George B. Brennan	Captain of H.M.S. Gossamer Jun, 1906 – c. Aug, 1906	Succeeded by Harold Escombe
Preceded by Wilfred Tomkinson	Captain of H.M.S. Mallard 27 Nov, 1910 – 19 May, 1911	Succeeded by Geoffrey P. Russell
Preceded by Gerald C. Dickens	Captain of H.M.S. Garry 21 Jun, 1911 – 22 Jan, 1913	Succeeded by Osmond J. Prentis
Preceded by Thomas K. Maxwell	Captain of H.M.S. Mallard 22 Jan, 1913 – 20 Feb, 1913	Succeeded by Osmond J. Prentis
Preceded by John E. Cameron	Captain of H.M.S. Patrol 31 Jul, 1913 – Aug, 1913	Succeeded by Alan C. Bruce
Preceded by Charles W. C. Strickland	Captain of H.M.S. Mars 2 Sep, 1913 – 9 Feb, 1914	Succeeded by Tristan Dannreuther
Preceded by Gerald Harper	Captain of H.M.S. Sentinel 14 Aug, 1914 – 4 Apr, 1916	Succeeded by Archibald Cochrane
Preceded by Harold O. Reinold	Captain of H.M.S. Prince Rupert 16 May, 1917 – Mar, 1919	Succeeded by Alfred G. Alexander
Preceded by Graham R. L. Edwards	Captain of H.M.S. Birkenhead 22 Apr, 1919 – 29 Jul, 1922	Succeeded by ?