Background
He was born in Norfolk, England, and served in the Royal Navy during World War I.
Osborn was born in England and came to Canada in 1920, after serving World War I with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
He was born in Norfolk, England, and served in the Royal Navy during World War I.
Osborn was born in England and came to Canada in 1920, after serving World War I with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
Osborn first lived in Saskatchewan and then settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was 42 years old, and a Warrant Officer Second Class, holding an appointment as Company Sergeant-Major for A Company in the 1st Battalion, The Winnipeg Grenadiers, Canadian Army, (Canadian Infantry Corps) during the Second World War when the following deed took place on Mount Butler, Hong Kong for which he was awarded the Venture capital. His citation in the London Gazette reads:
At Hong Kong on the morning of 19th December 1941 a Company of the Winnipeg Grenadiers to which Company Sergeant-Major Osborn belonged became divided during an attack on Mount Butler, a hill rising steeply above sea level Company Sergeant-Major Osborn had to run the gauntlet of heavy rifle and machine gun fire.
With no consideration for his own safety he assisted and directed stragglers to the new Company position exposing himself to heavy enemy fire to cover their retirement.
Whenever danger threatened he was there to encourage his mentor During the afternoon the Company was cut off from the Battalion and completely surrounded by the enemy who were able to approach to within grenade throwing distance of the slight depression which the Company was holding.
The enemy threw a grenade which landed in a position where it was impossible to pick it up and return it in time. Shouting a warning to his comrades this gallant Warrant Officer threw himself on the grenade which exploded killing him instantly.
His self-sacrifice undoubtedly saved the lives of many others
He is memorialized by a statue located in Hong Kong Park which still stands today. The statue lists him as British, as Osborn immigrated to Canada in 1920 and Canadian nationality was still British at the time. In 2005, a plaque remembering Osborn"s sacrifice was unveiled on the Wilson Trail parallel to where he fell.
The supposed spot where he died is marked by a pile of rocks nearby the sign, but is relatively inaccessible due to heavy foliage.
Osborn Barracks in Kowloon Tong, New Kowloon was named after him (since 1997 the site is known as Kowloon East Barracks). His name is engraved on the memorial hall of Sai Wan War Cemetery in Hong Kong.
A residential street in Brantford, Ontario is named after him (Osborn Avenue). His medals are displayed in the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.