He was the eldest son of Sir Francis Osborne, 15th Baronet and wife Kathleen Eliza née Whitfield, of Framfield Grange, Sussex.

[1] Osborne was educated at Repton School, Derbyshire before entering the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Berkshire.

Osborne fought with distinction in the First World War, receiving mentions in despatches.

[2] Wounded in combat twice,[3] Osborne was awarded the Military Cross in 1917 and was promoted major in 1932 before retiring from regular service with the Royal Sussex Regiment in the rank of lieutenant-colonel.

[5] Media related to Sir George Francis Osborne, 16th Baronet at Wikimedia Commons