Osborne Orr DFC

[AngusScully]

Ace Island

The Vancouver Island Military Museum announces a new display about four aces from the First World War who were born on the island. Going from north to south in geographical location:

Charles Hickey of Parksville and Nanaimo had 21 victories,

Raymond Collishaw of Nanaimo had 60 victories,

Osborne Orr of Nanaimo and Vancouver had 5 victories.

Joseph Fall of Cobble Hill had 36 victories.

Today it is possible to drive the distance in under an hour. We can only wonder if they ever new each other before the war. In the RAF, Charlie Hickey and Osborne Orr served together in the summer of 1918 in 204 Squadron.

A precious and central feature of the display is Osborne Orr’s Distinguished Flying Cross. This was only discovered recently by Orr’s descendants in Seattle Washington. James Thayer and his sister Constance were sorting through the estate of their recently deceased brother when they discovered the long lost medal. It had been unknown to the family. James and Constance decided to repatriate the medal and generously donated it and other medals to the Vancouver Island Military Museum.

After some discussion we decided to show the DFC in its original box, with Orr’s RFC wings in place, with tape, as received. The photo shows Osborne Orr, circa 1914.

Angus Scully

Editor, Member of Board of Directors

Vancouver Island Military Museum