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Trooper Harry Osborne

Close up of Harry Osborne from large group photo (click here)

Harry Osborne was known to his mother as her blue-eyed boy, mischievous, yet gentle. To this farm boy from Echo Bay, Ontario signing up for World War II service was likely an adventure in his mind. It was also a duty and an honour, beliefs of that generation. Most of those eligible to volunteer for duty, did and they included Harry's brothers and sisters. You'll read of their stories here and you'll imagine what it must have been like for Henry and Mildred Osborne to be on the farm and have their family at war.

The Osborne Family, Early days on the farm:

Back row, middle Millie Osborne holding son Harold; Second row, twins Ruby and Ruth; Third row, Vera, Harry, Henry, Ernie. Others are relatives.

That day in June 1944 was probably like most other summer days until the post master came walking up to the house. He had a telegram and spent an hour with Henry and Millie helping them come to terms with the news that they had lost a son on the beaches at D-Day.

Harry Osborne was among the first to die that fateful day. As a member of A Squadron, First Hussars, his tank was among the first to get to Juno Beach.

Writer Foster Stark in the book, A History of the First Hussars Regiment: 1856-1980 (first published 1951, revised edition 1981 by A. Brandon Conron, E. Frank Hull, W. Robert Newman, and Sam W. Pawley), described it this way:

On the extreme left of the area, third troop commanded by Lieut. "Red" Goff pushed over the beach and river to get into the "island" in order to neutralize the first objective, a well camouflaged concrete fort. This gun did deadly work, however, before 3rd troop could destroy it. With one shot it knocked out Cpl. H. A. Pockiluk's tank. The crew attempted to bail out but as they emerged from the tank they were machine-gunned. Thus the whole crew, Cpl. H. A. Pockiluk, L/Cpl. I. A. Lytle, Tprs. H. Osborne, R. F. Moore and W. F. Hackford died on the beaches a few minutes after H-Hour.

W.F (Tom) Hackford was from Sault Ste. Marie and likely trained with Harry in England. The two, because of their common home geography, probably spent much time together in England during those years before D-Day. These two young men who learned and socialized together, who shared memories of home and who ultimately died together, are also buried beside each other at Beny Sur Mer. They now rest eternally, together.

Listing of the five Harry's last letter home, just days before D-Day Final resting place at Beny Sur Mer London 2004 Reunion