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War nurse Beatrice Osborn dies, aged 100

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Beatrice "Bobbie" Osborn, when she was a Pink Lady at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (Photograph supplied)

Beatrice Osborn, the widow of Bermudian war hero Geoffrey Osborn, has died at 100.

She lived in Bermuda for many years and was a Pink Lady volunteer at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. She also worked in the china department at Smith’s department store.

Beatrice “Bobbie” Eleanor Durham Osborn, was born in Takely, Essex, England, in 1916.

She served as a Voluntary Aid Detachment nursing member in the British Red Cross Society during the Second World War where she met her future husband.

Mr Osborn, who grew up in Bermuda, was a Royal Air Force bomber pilot and was awarded the George Medal for courage in rescuing crew members in two air crashes.

Mrs Osborn nursed him as he was convalescing from injuries suffered during the war. The couple married in November 1944.

Due to his injuries Mr Osborn returned to Bermuda, followed by his new bride. Here they built and lived in Mazarine, now greatly extended as a guest cottage. Their daughter Wendy was born shortly afterwards at KEMH.

The family then moved to England for training. There followed various postings to Germany and Northern Rhodesia before returning to Bermuda in 1966.

Mr Osborn joined the Department of Civil Aviation and later became Director of Civil Aviation, while Mrs Osborn volunteered at the hospital as a Pink Lady, where she was able to draw on her wartime nursing experience. She also worked in Smith’s china department for many years, a position she enjoyed immensely.

As a hobby, she painted and sold watercolours of Bermuda scenes for many years.

Mrs Osborn spent her final years in South Carolina with her daughter, son-in-law and their American relatives.

She died on March 19, in Columbia, South Carolina.

Mrs Osborn was preceded in death by her husband. She is survived by daughter Wendy (Mark) Hollger of Columbia; son Michael (Debbie); brother-in-law Jack Osborn of Lumberton, New Jersey; and many nieces and nephews.

Mrs Osborn’s final resting place will be the family grave at St Mark’s Church, Smith’s.

Beatrice "Bobbie" Osborn in uniform during the Second World War (Photograph supplied)
Beatrice “Bobbie” Osborn, who has died at 100 (Photograph supplied)
Beatrice “Bobbie” Osborn, who has died at 100 (Photograph supplied)