‘A’ Company Sergeant-Major John Osborn earned the only Victoria Cross for actions during the Battle of Hong Kong. [Wikimedia]

That same day, The Winnipeg Grenadiers suffered a blow when fighting near the centrally located Wong Nei Chong Gap took out the Canadian commander, Brigadier John K. Lawson. He would be the most senior ranking Canadian killed during the battle. Still, the Grenadiers pushed on.

Within their ranks was ‘A’ Company Sergeant-Major John Osborn. British-born but having immigrated to Canada in 1920, the 42-year-old Winnipeg resident had served in the First World War and, therefore, offered rare experience within ‘C’ Force.

No doubt being battle-tested served Osborn well when the time came to carry out an attack against enemy-held Mount Butler, an objective he would achieve at “bayonet point.”

Osborn, knowing there wouldn’t be enough time to throw the explosive back, dove on top of it.

After three continuous hours of Japanese counterattacks, it became clear that the Grenadiers’ position was untenable. Osborn and a small group remained in their positions to cover the subsequent fighting. When it was time to leave, it was the sergeant major who single-handedly shielded their retreat.

Osborn somehow survived, and soon returned to ‘A’ Company, where he and his men would find themselves once again in perilous circumstances.

Holed up in a building surrounded by grenade flinging Japanese, the British-born Canadian picked up the live grenades thrown at them and returned them to sender. The super hero-like performance could only last so long.

As one final grenade entered the building, Osborn, knowing there wouldn’t be enough time to throw the explosive back, dove on top of it. He shielded his comrades from an almost certain death.

It was an act so selfless, it was worthy of being the only Victoria Cross awarded in the Battle of Hong Kong.

“Osborn was an inspiring example to all throughout the defence, and in his death he displayed the highest qualities of heroism and self-sacrifice,” reads his citation.

He left behind a wife and five children.