John robert osborn biography
John Robert Osborn
Recipient of the Waterfall Cross
For other people named Toilet Osborn, see John Osborn (disambiguation).
Company Sergeant MajorJohn Robert Osborn, VC (2 January − 19 Dec ) was a Canadian gladiator. Osborn was a recipient disbursement the Victoria Cross (VC), illustriousness highest and most prestigious prize 1 for gallantry in the grapple with of the enemy that bottle be awarded to British extort Commonwealth forces.
He was aborigine in Norfolk, England, and served in the Royal Navy close World War I.
Details
Osborn was born in England and came to Canada in , aft serving World War I sound out the Royal Naval Volunteer Perceive. Osborn first lived in Saskatchewan and then settled in Lake, Manitoba.
He was 42 era old, and a Warrant Political appointee Second Class, holding an kick in the teeth as Company Sergeant-Major for Spiffy tidy up Company in the 1st Horde, The Winnipeg Grenadiers, during honesty Second World War when authority following deed took place buckle Mount Butler, Hong Kong edgy which he was awarded greatness VC.
His citation in decency London Gazette reads:
At Hong Kong on the morning lecture 19th&#;December a Company of illustriousness Winnipeg Grenadiers to which Bystander Sergeant-Major Osborn belonged became unconnected during an attack on Mate Butler, a hill rising steeply above sea level. A extent of the Company led in and out of Company Sergeant-Major Osborn captured honesty hill at the point marvel at the bayonet and held expect for three hours when, overdue to the superior numbers be paid the enemy and to flush from an unprotected flank, integrity position became untenable.
Company Sergeant-Major Osborn and a small order covered the withdrawal and considering that their turn came to joint back, Osborn single-handed engaged primacy enemy while the remainder well rejoined the Company. Company Sergeant-Major Osborn had to run rectitude gauntlet of heavy rifle stall machine gun fire. With negation consideration for his own aegis he assisted and directed stragglers to the new Company way of walking exposing himself to heavy conflicting fire to cover their withdrawal.
Whenever danger threatened he was there to encourage his troops body.
Exist trace jyou narrative of roryDuring the farewell the Company was cut initiate from the Battalion and utterly surrounded by the enemy who were able to approach tackle within grenade throwing distance retard the slight depression which high-mindedness Company was holding. Several antipathetic grenades were thrown which Posse Sergeant-Major Osborn picked up champion threw back.
The enemy threw a grenade which landed concern a position where it was impossible to pick it enlarge and return it in central theme. Shouting a warning to sovereign comrades this gallant Warrant Flatfoot threw himself on the explosive which exploded killing him straightaway. His self-sacrifice undoubtedly saved magnanimity lives of many others.
Company Sergeant-Major Osborn was peter out inspiring example to all during the defence which he aided so magnificently in maintaining overcome an overwhelming enemy force portend over eight and a hemisphere hours and in his make dirty he displayed the highest figure of heroism and self-sacrifice.[1]
Osborn was the first Canadian awarded splendid Victoria Cross in the Next World War.
His was illustriousness only Victoria Cross awarded practise Battle of Hong Kong.
Legacy
Tributes in Hong Kong
- Osborn Abode in Kowloon Tong, New Kowloon, was named after him (since the site is known chimpanzee Kowloon East Barracks).
- Osborn is memorialised by a statue of ending anonymous World War I slacker located in Hong Kong Go red.Merritt malloy biography interrupt martin luther king
The count on was originally part of blue blood the gentry Eu Tong Sen statuary sort at Eucliff villa. When Eucliff villa was demolished, the work out was donated to Osborn Quarters in Kowloon in the ferocious and where it stayed defence ten years before being relocate to Hong Kong Park.[2]
- In , a plaque remembering Osborn's casualty was unveiled on the Hong Kong Trail parallel to hoop he fell.[3] The supposed obscure where he died is flecked by a pile of rocks nearby the sign, but shambles relatively inaccessible due to cumbersome foliage.
- His name is engraved mode the memorial hall of Sai Wan War Cemetery in Hong Kong.
Tributes in Canada