Jan. 24 1900: Canadian Dead at Spion Kop

January 24, 1900: The Morning Telegram reports the death in battle of Brantford, ON native and Royal Military College graduate J. W. Osborne, an officer with the British Army's 90th Scottish Rifles. Osborne is killed leading an attack against heavily-armed Boer units at the Battle of Spion Kop. This action followed hot on the heels of the "Black Week," a set of devastating British defeats in December 1899. The first contingent of Canadian volunteers disembarked in November and would engage Boer forces in February.

“The deathof Lieutenant John Woodburn Osborne was conveyed to his father, J. Kerr Osborne, in the following cable-gram from the War Office yesterday: "I regret to inform you that your son J.W. Osborne is reported by telegram from Natal as killed in action on January 24. (Sgd.) Chief." No further particulars have been received and it is consequently impossible to state definitely how the young officer met his death. It is believed however that he was killed in the defence of Spion Kop. His regiment was with General Clery's division.”

"Canadians at the Seat of War"

More on Spion Kop from the Canadiana Discovery Portal

"Killed, Wounded, and Missing—Awful Loss of Life Incurred in General Buller's Second Abortive Attempt to Relieve Ladysmith"

"Unsuccessfull Operations on the Tugela River—Retreat of the Thirty Thousand"

"Battle of Spion Kop"

"The Spion Kop Correspondence—Half a Company of the Gordons Prove Their Regimental Valor by Beating Five Times Their Number"