Remembrance Day in Nanaimo has been held every year since 1919, including during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the end of the First World War.
One of the veterans attending the ceremony this year, as he has for many years, was Victor Osborne who was born on Armistice Day in 1918 and turned 106 on Monday.
An annual tradition of the Remembrance Day ceremony in Nanaimo is singing Happy Birthday to Osborne.
Victor Osborne bows his head during the Remembrance Day ceremony in Nanaimo on Nov. 11, 2024. A British veteran of the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War Osborne was born on Nov. 11, 1918 and turned 106 on Monday.
Osborne served in the Royal Navy on HMS Hood, seeing action escorting merchant ships during the Spanish Civil war, before volunteering for special operations missions in Southeast Asia against the Japanese after his father was killed in the London Blitz.
Even though it was a dangerous assignment Osborne survived the war, avoiding the fate of the HMS Hood which was sunk by the German Navy in 1941.
I had the opportunity to briefly meet Victor on Monday after photographing the Remembrance Day Ceremony and hope to be able to tell more of his story in the future.
Photos by Mick Sweetman / The Discourse.
Bob Sears salutes during the Remembrance Day ceremony in Nanaimo on Nov. 11, 2024.A veteran sits watching the Remembrance Day ceremony in Nanaimo on Nov. 11, 2024. An American veteran salutes after laying a wreath at the Remembrance Day ceremony in Nanaimo on Nov. 11, 2024. A Legion member holds the Legion flag during the Remembrance Day ceremony in Nanaimo on Nov. 11, 2024.George Molnar, first vice president of Branch 256, marches with Canadian Legion members during the Remembrance Day parade on Nov. 11, 2024.A decorated Petty Officer, 2nd Class stands at attention during the Remembrance Day ceremony in Nanaimo on Nov. 11, 2024. Sailors from the Canadian Navy march in the Remembrance Day parade in Nanaimo on Nov. 11, 2024.Soldiers from the Canadian Scottish Regiment march during the Remembrance Day parade in Nanaimo on Nov. 11, 2024.Nanaimo firefighters march in the Remembrance Day parade in Nanaimo on Nov. 11, 2024.A Sea Cadet salutes during the Remembrance Day parade in Nanaimo on Nov. 11, 2024. An Air Cadet guards the Cenotaph in downtown Nanaimo before the Remembrance Day ceremony on Nov. 11, 2024,. A young girl sits on her father’s shoulders as she watches the Remembrance Day ceremony in Nanaimo on Nov. 11, 2024.
For all of the photos from the Remembrance Day ceremony, please see the below slideshow.
Correction:This story has been updated with the correct spelling of Victor Osborne’s last name. We regret the error.
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