Osmund Wordsworth, 27, was returning to England on the Lusitania to enlist in the British Army. He was traveling with his sister Ruth. During the last minutes of the sinking, he gave his lifebelt to someone else. Even without his lifebelt, Wordsworth managed to escape the wreck and survive. Ruth also survived.
Wordsworth was born 17 May 1887 in Glaston, Rutland, England to Reverend Christopher Wordsworth. Osmund was educated at Langton Matravers, Dorset, and Winchester College. He enrolled in Trinity College at the University of Cambridge in 1906 and received his B.A. in 1909. He entered the masters’ program in 1911 and received in M.A. in 1913. He was also a lecturer at Selwyn College at Cambridge from 1911 to 1914. Afterwards, he moved to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and served as staff at Trinity College there, C.O.T.C.
In June of 1915, Wordsworth received his commission in the 9th Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Before going to France he was transferred to the 21st Machine Gun Company and reached the Arras front in September of 1916. Wordsworth was killed in action at Arras. After bringing tino position his guns fro assisting the attack on Hénin-sur-Cojeul, Wordsworth saw that the men at one of the other guns were having trouble getting theirs into position. Refusing to allow any of those whom he had placed in shelter to carry his instructions, he went to help the men himself, and was soon seen to fall, shot through the heart. Wordsworth was buried near Hénin-sur-Cojeul.
Contributors:
Marika Pirie
References:
University of Toronto – Roll of Service, 1921, p. 153-4.
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