OSMAN, Alfred

DIVISIONAL UNIT:         4th Canadian Infantry Division
                                             10th Infantry Brigade
                                             47th Battalion - West Ontario
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   654133
RESIDENCE:                    Goderich – Ontario 
DATE OF BIRTH:            September 5, 1890
                                             London - England
DATE OF DEATH:           August 10, 1918                   27 years     11 months
MEMORIAL:                    Vimy Memorial – Vimy –
                                             Pas de Calais - France
MOTHER:                         Mrs. May Osman – London – Ontario.
Occupation:                        Miller                                   Religion:     Church of England
Enlistment:                         Goderich – December 31, 1915 – 161st Huron Battalion
Enlistment Age:                 25 years     3 months

The S.S. Lapland departed Halifax and arrived in Liverpool with the 161st Battalion on November 11, 1916.
On March 8, 1918, he transfers to the 47th Battalion, goes overseas into France and joins the unit in the field on 
March 23, 1918.
Private Osman and his unit were near Fouquescourt when he was killed in action during an attack that had started at Maharicourt, and the platoon he was a member of was surrounded by the enemy. They had to withdrawal under the cover of their Lewis guns. Private Osman was a gunner and just as he reached a shallow trench at about 5pm in the afternoon, a 9.2 shell exploded very close to him and he died immediately and six of his comrades were wounded.
The weather was misty with winds from the north-west
The Battalion was in battle formation behind the 44th Battalion with “A” & “C” Companies as assault and “B” & “D” Companies in support.
The advance moved forward at 10:15 am and enemy artillery began coming down and as the advance continued they came under very heavy machine-gun fire near Fouquescourt and the advance was checked. “A” Company advanced and made contact with the enemy and engaged them. With the aid of the 44th Battalion “A” Company rushed the village and set up defensive lines. “C” Company was engaged with enemy machine-gun nests and posts. They then leap-frogged the 44th Battalion and advanced until being stopped by the enemy a second time.
The enemy was holding out and the 47th Battalion consolidated Memalars Trench.