Most of these questions are very logical questions, which show that he likes to get all the facts before he starts anything to make sure he knows what he is doing.
Osborne is also very complimentary to others especially to Stanhope who he refers to as “the best company commander we’ve got” also “there isn’t a man to touch him as commander of men” and “his experience alone makes him worth a dozen people like me.”
Osborne also says “I’d go to hell with that fellow” which truly shows just how dedicated Osborne is to Stanhope and even throughout the conversation with Raleigh when he fist arrives Osborne occasionally compliments Stanhope.
Osborne also stands up for Stanhope when Osborne and Hardy are talking about Stanhope’s drinking habits by telling Hardy that he is only drinking because he has been out here so long and his nerves have suffered so badly – “And because he’s stuck it till his nerves have got battered to bits, he’s called a drunkard”.
Osborne is also very humble and when he is told, “Osborne, you ought to be commanding this company” Osborne replies sharply with “Rubbish!” and “Don’t be an ass.” Osborne knows what a good commander Stanhope is and he wouldn’t dare think about taking that privilege away from Stanhope.
Osborne also seems to command naturally and people seem to do immediately what he says. When he is talking to Hardy and he tells him to do something such as “Finish handing over and stop blithering” hardy immediately responds to him and therefore Osborne seems to have a natural commanding power within him.
Osborne is very kind and helpful. He is polite and helps clear up the papers off the table when Mason goes to lay dinner. He also tries to please Stanhope and he feels like he is not a good as Stanhope – “you take this bed, it’s a better one” shows how he will give up his comfort to keep others happy.
He is also friendly, always greeting people with hello, and when Raleigh arrives the way Osborne looks gains him immediate respect “Good Evening, (he notices Osborne’s grey hair and adds:) sir “. Osborne is also very chatty and as soon as Raleigh arrives they immediately lost in conversation as though they have been friends for years. He takes young Raleigh under his wing as a newcomer and really displays his kindness and qualities as a friend.
In the conversation with Raleigh, Osborne warns him that Stanhope will not be the same as when Raleigh last seen him. This shows that Osborne doesn’t want it to come a shock to Raleigh or even hear nasty whispers about Stanhope when he is on duty or with the other men. Osborne tells him that it’s the stain on Stanhope that has changed him but he doesn’t mention Stanhope’s drinking habits to Raleigh incase it shocks him. His shows that Osborne is aware of other people’s feeling and he tries to protect them from something he knows they won’t want to hear. Osborne tells Raleigh to think of the war as “romantic” and this shows me how they soldiers blank out the thought of war- by making it seem positive.
Osborne admires Stanhope “You’ve done pretty well. An M.C. and a company” but strangely seems to look after Stanhope in a way, telling him “I wish you’d turn in and sleep for a bit” as Osborne can see that Stanhope is tired and he almost seems like the parent of this company, looking after everyone; Osborne also tells Stanhope that he “ought to go away for a rest”. Osborne also believes that everyone tells the truth and this is shown when Hibbert tells them he has neuralgia of the eye, Osborne says to Stanhope “I don’t see how you can prevent a fellow going sick” showing how he thinks that Hibbert is actually ill and he can’t see why anyone would try to out of the war. When Stanhope gets annoyed Osborne is there to try and calm him down saying things such as “Come and lie down” and Stanhope doesn’t see him commanding or threatening, he just refuses but Osborne continues and Stanhope agrees willingly.
Like most upper-class men at that time Osborne still had some sense of feeling superior over the working class like Trotter and Mason. Trotter, after being inspired by a patch of sunlight, describes to Osborne his garden in the summer time and “the 'ite of the 'olly'ock ” that grew there one year. Osborne is then found with Stanhope discussing how Trotter, being from the working class, has 'no imagination' and how he must feel how drowsily drunk all the time.
When Raleigh finds out that Osborne played rugby for England he is immediately ready to worship him and look up to him like a hero because he has accomplished something Raleigh finds so great. When Osborne and Stanhope chat together it seems as though Osborne continually talks about things that have nothing to do with war, things such as plays, sport and sunrise whereas Stanhope continually talks about the war.
When Osborne and Stanhope discuss Raleigh’s letter Osborne seems to sense that nothing bad about Stanhope will be written and tries to convince Stanhope that this is true but Stanhope forces Raleigh to leave the letter and because Stanhope doesn’t want to read the letter Osborne offers to do it for him, which shows how loyal Osborne is to Stanhope, even doing things for him which he believes is wrong.
Osborne is chosen for the raid because he is skilled and experienced and this is obvious to everyone as he is the immediate choice to direct the raid. When Osborne finds out that he is in the war he doesn’t show much emotion, he only comments “Why Raleigh?” which shows he will do anything to honour Stanhope and his country in the war.
We find out that Osborne is reading “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”, Trotter calls it a kid’s book and on page 72 Osborne quotes from “Alice's Adventures in Wonderland”, illustrating that there was no considerable point to their mission. "Now we're off! Quick, let's talk about pigs!" shows how the soldiers were often so overwhelmed by the death and destruction that they switched off and found comfort in talking about simple things with no reason, such as in this case with pigs, and worms on page 42: "I expect that's the one thing that worms dread."
When Raleigh and Osborne are talking just before the raid they getting talking about Lyndhurst and this shows how quickly they can just switch off from war. Osborne and Raleigh seem to get on well together and it seems right that they should go on the raid together. When they are about to go Raleigh leaves his wedding ring and watch behind claiming “I don’t want the risk of losing it” but I think he can sense that there is a chance he won’t make it back to the company again but he doesn’t want to think about it and goes back to joking with Stanhope and the rest of the company such as “I do hate leaving a pipe when its got a nice glow on the top like that.”
When we realize that Osborne has been killed in action by a hand grenade while waiting for Raleigh it is very sad and a very abrupt ending to his part in the play. The fact that Osborne dies without Stanhope near him is very sad as we know how much Osborne loved Stanhope, he thought of him like family and we have lost a part of Stanhope almost as well. Osborne is not mentioned again except when Raleigh can’t eat because he is too traumatised by his death but Osborne is from then on forgotten, he was an unsung hero.
We can see that Osborne was liked by all the men and he seems almost perfect; caring for others, chatting and being friendly, looking out others and honouring his country.
Osborne was a great man and he deserves to be a hero afer everything he has done for the company and for England.
