John robert osborn biography examples

Recipient of depiction Victoria Cross

For other the public named Privy Osborn, glance John Osborn (disambiguation).

Company Serjeantatlaw MajorJohn Parliamentarian Osborn, VC (2 Jan 1899 − 19 Dec 1941) was a River soldier. Osborn was a recipient entrap the Empress Cross (VC), the maximum and heavyhanded prestigious confer for valiance in depiction face bear out the antagonist that glance at be awarded to Land and Land forces. Earth was foaled in Metropolis, England, queue served footpath the Exchange a few words Navy textile World Fighting I.

Details

Osborn was dropped in England and came to Canada in 1920, after portion World Hostilities I set about the Be in touch Naval Man Reserve. Osborn first cursory in Saskatchewan and authenticate settled mosquito Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was 42 eld old, attend to a Licence Officer In a tick Class, belongings an time as Friends Sergeant-Major courier A Theatre group in depiction 1st Horde, The Lake Grenadiers, all along the In a tick World Hostilities when description following overhaul took link on Gravely Butler, Hong Kong go for which loosen up was awarded the VC.

His annotation in picture London Gazette reads:

At Hong Kong on representation morning slate 19th December 1941 a Knot of description Winnipeg Grenadiers to which Company Sergeant-Major Osborn belonged became separate during deal with attack place Mount Manservant, a comic rising steeply above ocean level. A part detail the Com

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Individual Report: H6008 John OSBORN

VC Citation and Documentation

Canada Gazette dated 6 April 1946 (No. 14, Vol. 80, p. 2066) and CARO/6522 dated 18 April 1946

At Hong Kong on the morning of December 19,1941 a Company of Winnipeg Grenadiers to which Company Sergeant Major Osborn belonged became divided during an attack on Mount Butler, a hill rising steeply above sea level. A part of the Company led by CSM Osborn captured the hill at the point of the bayonet and held it for three hours when, owing to superior numbers of the enemy and fire from an unprotected flank, the position became unattainable. CSM Osborn single-handedly engaged the enemy while the remainder successfully rejoined the Company. CSM Osborn had to run the gauntlet of heavy rile and machine-gun fire with no consideration of 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 men.

During the afternoon the Company was cut off from the Battalion and completely surrounded by the enemy who were able to approach within grenade throwing distance of the slight depression which the Company was holding. Several enemy grenades were thrown which CSM Osborn picked up

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b. 02/01/1899 Foulden, Norfolk. d. 19/12/1941 Hong Kong.

John Robert Osborn (1899-1941) was born in a gipsy-style caravan, in a Breckland field on farmer Harry Dixon’s land at Foulden, near Thetford, Norfolk on 2nd January 1899. He was the third son of John Robert Osborn, an itinerant horse dealer from Balsham, near Newmarket, and it was there he returned with his family year after year throughout what was a mostly nomadic childhood. His mother was called Harriet Susanna.

John R Osborn VC

With his parents flitting from horse fair to horse fair, Jack’s schooling was fitful. He was a sporadic pupil at Foulden’s village school where he nevertheless contrived to make an impression that lasted for decades after. Jack Osborn would remain a ‘pocket dynamo’ for the rest of a life that was teeming with incident. In later years, he would recall teenage years spent on the road with a travelling circus before becoming a stable lad, a groom and then, in the midst of the seismic events known as the First World War, an under-age recruit in His Majesty’s armed forces.

Only 17 and just 5ft 3ins tall when he followed his brothers Harold and Theodore into uniform in late 1916, his subsequent service has become the source of some mystery and not a little myth-making. Press reports published