1 00:00:00,030 --> 00:00:02,789 The soldier who threw himself onto a grenade 2 00:00:03,940 --> 00:00:05,920 sergeant-major, Osborne 3 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:08,729 heroic sacrifice defense of Hong Kong 4 00:00:09,550 --> 00:00:11,110 1941 5 00:00:11,110 --> 00:00:14,428 During the defense of Hong Kong on the morning of December 19 6 00:00:14,679 --> 00:00:21,448 1941 a company of Winnipeg Grenadiers was separated during an attack on Mount Butler on Hong Kong Island 7 00:00:21,939 --> 00:00:26,729 the company was led by sergeant major Osborne full name, John, Robert, Osborne. 8 00:00:27,189 --> 00:00:33,269 He was born in Fulda Norfolk England ,and served in the First World War as part of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. 9 00:00:34,030 --> 00:00:40,980 After the war he moved to Canada as Saskatchewan Wapella where he was a farmer for two years. He then moved to Winnipeg Manitoba. 10 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:47,219 After working for the Canadian Pacific Railway, he joined the Winnipeg Grenadier in 1933. 11 00:00:48,010 --> 00:00:53,379 In September 1939 ,at the outbreak of World War 2, the Winnipeg Grenadiers 12 00:00:53,380 --> 00:00:55,769 were called for duty, serving as a garrison in Jamaica. 13 00:00:56,230 --> 00:00:57,968 on October 27, 1941, 14 00:00:57,969 --> 00:01:05,009 the raw recruits of the Winnipeg Grenadier saled for Hong Kong under British orders to strengthen the garrison there, 15 00:01:05,199 --> 00:01:07,588 in preparation for an impending Japanese invasion. 16 00:01:08,110 --> 00:01:14,489 Osbourne was a company sergeant- major for a company in the 1st battalion by now. On the morning of December 19, 1941, 17 00:01:14,740 --> 00:01:18,339 a part of the company of Winnipeg Grenadiers, 18 00:01:18,340 --> 00:01:22,920 led by sergeant major Osborne, made a bayonet charge on Mount Butler, capturing the steep hill. 19 00:01:23,890 --> 00:01:31,199 Holding out for 3 hours against Japanese counter-attacks, soon, The overwhelming enemy numbers opened an undefended flank. 20 00:01:31,869 --> 00:01:34,409 Osbourne and his group prepared for withdrawal. 21 00:01:35,110 --> 00:01:38,519 While the group were rejoining with the company, he engaged the enemy 22 00:01:39,310 --> 00:01:44,939 Single-handedly under heavy enemy rifle and machine gun fire, while helping stragglers get to the new company position. 23 00:01:45,369 --> 00:01:52,709 Now it was afternoon, and the company found itself cut off from the battalion. The Canadians were now completely surrounded by enemy forces, 24 00:01:52,710 --> 00:01:58,229 who were so close, that they were within grenade throwing distance. the position was hopeless. 25 00:01:58,810 --> 00:02:06,360 The Japanese soldiers threw several grenades into the Canadian position, but Osbourne picked them up, and threw them back to protect his fellow soldiers. 26 00:02:07,119 --> 00:02:12,729 A grenade landed where it would be impossible to pick it up and throw in time. Osborn made a split-second decision 27 00:02:12,950 --> 00:02:20,738 He shouted a warning, pushed a comrade out of the way and threw himself onto the enemy grenade which exploded and killed him instantly. 28 00:02:21,290 --> 00:02:26,019 He was 42 years old. This action saved the lives of his fellow comrades, 29 00:02:26,569 --> 00:02:28,280 desperately defending the position. 30 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:31,089 The company maintained a defence against an overwhelming 31 00:02:31,370 --> 00:02:36,940 Enemy for eight and a half hours, with 60 casualties, and a few survivors taken as prisoners. 32 00:02:38,209 --> 00:02:42,249 Sergeant- major Osborne displayed the highest qualities of heroism and self-sacrifice 33 00:02:42,980 --> 00:02:48,250 Becoming the first Canadian to receive the Victoria Cross in the second world war, which he received posthumously. 34 00:02:48,590 --> 00:02:53,229 He was also the only person to be awarded a Victoria Cross for the Battle of Hong Kong 35 00:02:53,230 --> 00:02:57,340 He is memorialized by a plaque on a statue of an anonymous world war one soldier, 36 00:02:58,190 --> 00:03:00,190 Located in Hong Kong Park. 37 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:12,430 Subscribe for more World War 2 videos. Get your copy of Simple History, World War 2, today.