The strange WW1 Soldier Statue in Hong Kong Park
The real and fascinating story behind the statute’s plaque
Me Jamie, your host, I am English and I have lived in Hong Kong since January 2nd 1972 - I know the place.
A blog post with a difference
Please do visit Hong Kong | Travel, Tourism, Tours, Tips, Daily Life and my personal thoughts on Hong Kong.
Hong Kong | Pearl of the Orient
Customised Private Tours & Experiences in Amazing Hong Kong
Pearl of the Orient
Private Tours Cultural Tours Walking Tours Sightseeing Tours City Tours Night Tours Transit Tours Shore Excursions
Carefully Crafted Personalised and Customised Itineraries by Jamie | Hong Kong’s Most Experienced Private Tour Guide For :
Solo Travellers Friends Families Seniors Couples Business People
J3 Group Hong Kong | J3 Consultants Hong Kong | J3 Private Tours Hong Kong
Creating Memories That Will Last A Lifetime
Book Now
The strange Bronze WW1 Soldier Statue in Hong Kong Park
The real and fascinating story behind the statute’s plaque
click on the image to enlarge
© Copyright Acknowledged | All rights reserved. | Image taken by Jamie
Hong Kong Park | Central District | Hong Kong
WW1 Statue near Flagstaff House in Hong Kong Park
Statue of John Osborn: WW1 Symbolism
I have finally cleared up the mystery of the statue in Hong Kong Park which is close to Flagstaff House a relic of colonial Hong Kong and an enduring Military symbol (it is now a tea museum)
Whenever I was in Hong Kong Park (frequently) I always thought that the statue was one of the those quirky errors which no one could be bothered to rectify.
.. and why is that?
Well anyone with even basic rudimentary knowledge of Military History will note that it clearly depicts a WW1 soldier, now Hong Kong was not directly involved in WW1 other than soldiers from the British Garrison here where often sent to Europe and yet the plaque beneath tells of the heroics of Hong Kong people in WW2 after the Japanese invaded Hong Kong in 1941 and in particular, those of a specific Canadian soldier who received a Victoria Cross for his actions and I simply could not figure out the discrepancy until now.
click on the image to enlarge
© Copyright Acknowledged | All rights reserved.| Image taken by Jamie
Hong Kong Park | Central District | Hong Kong
The Plaque in memory of the heroics of a WW2 soldier at the base of the statue
The Statue's Journey: From Tycoon's Garden to Hero's Memorial
So this is the story and includes the interaction I had with AI which gave me the facts.,
In fact the subject came up simply because I was researching the location of the British Military Command Centre (which was near the statue) in WW2 and the text mentioned the “statue of an unknown solder from WW1 and I thought that AI has made a mistake, as it turns out it was right and wrong at the same time!
Thank you for the correction and for sharing your photo—it's a fantastic close-up of the plaque!
You're absolutely right: the statue in Hong Kong Park (at the former Victoria Barracks site) is not an anonymous World War I memorial but a deliberate tribute to Company Sergeant-Major John Robert Osborn, VC, of the Winnipeg Grenadiers. The plaque at its base honors his ultimate sacrifice on 19 December 1941 during the Battle of Hong Kong, when he threw himself on a Japanese grenade to save his comrades on Mount Butler—earning him the first Canadian Victoria Cross of World War II. It also commemorates all defenders of Hong Kong that December.
Yes, there's a fascinating story behind why it depicts a World War I soldier in early 20th-century British infantry uniform (complete with puttees, helmet, and greatcoat)—despite Hong Kong's lack of direct involvement in the Great War and Osborn's own WW2 heroism
Origins in Eu Tong Sen's Collection (1920s–1930s): The bronze figure is one of many European-style statues collected by Eu Tong Sen ( , 1877–1941), a fabulously wealthy Peranakan Chinese entrepreneur (Eu Yan Sang herbal empire founder). He imported them for his opulent Repulse Bay mansion, Eucliffe (Eucliff Villa, ), built in the early 1930s. Eu Tong Sen admired Western art and military motifs post-WW1, so his gardens featured several "doughboy"-style WW1 soldier statues—likely British Tommy sculptures from UK or European foundries.
Post-WW2 Relocation to Military Sites (1980s): After Eu Tong Sen's death in 1941 and Eucliffe's demolition in the early 1980s (for Repulse Bay redevelopment), surviving statues were donated to the British garrison. This one went to Osborn Barracks in Kowloon (renamed after John Osborn in the 1970s). Placed there in 1982, it stood as a symbolic nod to military valor.
Final Home in Hong Kong Park (1992): In 1991–1992, Victoria Barracks became Hong Kong Park. The statue was relocated here in 1992—perfectly poetic, as Osborn died defending nearby positions. A dedication plaque (like yours) was added at the base, transforming the generic WW1 figure into Osborn's personal memorial. (Note: A nearby plaque lists all 1941 defenders.)
Why This Statue? Perfect Symbolism
Practical: No budget for a custom Osborn portrait (he wasn't photographed much in uniform). Reusing a fine existing bronze was efficient.
Thematic Fit: Osborn was a WW1 veteran—he served in the Royal Navy as a teen before emigrating to Canada in 1920. The soldier evokes his full life of service.
As a British colony, HK sent volunteers to the trenches; the statue honors that era's sacrifices broadly, now extended to WW2 heroes like Osborn.
Today, it's a quiet highlight in the park—visitors often pause to read your plaque! If you're ever back, the full setup (statue + dual plaques) is near the park's west entrance.
Sources confirm this across heritage sites, military histories, and photos—no myths, just solid provenance.
My insider tip
Please note that in general if you book a tour on Viator or Tripadvisor you generally have NO control over what guide will lead your Private Tour of Hong Kong and this is the most important component of the tour. I urge you to check the actual company website and book via their website and do not forget to read Tripadvisor reviews as well.
© Jamie Lloyd | J3 Consultants Hong Kong | J3 Private Tours Hong Kong |
| 2010 - 2025 All rights reserved. |
Click on any image to enlarge to full screen
Current images from my Instagram feed
