Sylvia Elizabeth Osborne (Hurley)

Jan 22, 2012

OSBORNE, Sylvia Elizabeth - Peacefully with her family by her side, Sylvia Elizabeth Osborne in her 93rd year, daughter of the late Art and Mary Hurley, wife of the late Ernest, mother of Arthur (Dianne) and Clarke (Shirley). Sister of Melba, Sheila and the late Rauleigh, late Leta, late Norma, late Wilbert and the late Bruce. Gramma of Rosalyn, Tricia, Jana, Michael, Gordon. Great grandmother of four and great great grandmother of four. Dear aunt and great aunt of many. Special friend to the 'card girls' and others. The family extends appreciation to staff of the Davey Home, especially first floor, Birch Lane for their care and compassion. As she said many times, “They treat me pretty well here.“ In keeping with Sylvia's wishes there was no visitation or funeral service. Cremation has taken place. Committal in the spring at Greenwood Cemetery. Memorial donations to the Davey Home Foundation, The Salvation Army or the Sault Ste. Marie Humane Society would be appreciated. Arrangements entrusted to the ARTHUR FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTRE

This story by freelance writer, well known local history buff, writer and family friend, Rick McGee, appeared in the Sault Star:

During the Second World War, hundreds of thousands of Canadians worked on the home front, producing materials needed for a nation at war. Women who worked in munitions factories risked their lives handling high explosives to fill ammunition. - from the book, Bomb Girls, by Barbara Dickson

click Home for website to Bomb Girls Legacy

Bomb Girls production company site has a video that includes Barbara Dixon…

Titles - Bomb Girls: A Documentary produced by BARB, BADI00 | McIntyre Media Inc.

Photo above was originally thought to be of Bomb Girls munitions factory staff in Toronto - including Sylvia Osborne, middle row in-between two co-workers - this picture is now believed to be of those who worked at Connaught Medical Research Laboratories, Toronto.

Sylvia spoke of making penicillin duiring her time at Connaught. From Wikipedia, “Following initial advances in chemical preparation, the National Research Council of Canada arranged for large-scale production via the Connaught Laboratories in 1943. The work "was carried on twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week", and involved heavy collaboration across Boston, Toronto, New York, and Oxford.It was effectively "a major military operation at the Labs", orchestrated with an eye to the "D-Day" landings in occupied France in June 1944.” Connaught Laboratories - Wikipedia

Based on previous photo being at Connaught Labs, the above was likely taken there.

One of the many unknown people and stories from this era, the above woman made the note below on the back of the photo given to Syliva (‘Sis’).

Sylvia’s sister Norma in an undated photo at unknown location she titled and dated below.

Norma - above and below photos - also wearing what is likely a Connaught Lab uniform. (the story of why she had a ‘herd of toy animals’ will remain lost in time.)

Thanks to Barbara Dixon, Bomb Girls book author and Bomb Girls Legacy Foundation founder for assistance in identifying the clothing in above photos. In response to a request for help, she kindly obliged by sending this:

“They are wearing white uniforms but have no insignia on them to indicate at which factory they worked. They have rolled up pant legs and sleeves. They are not wearing factory shoes. They have collars. They don't have hair coverings. They are outside. So what can we deduce? 

“I don't think these pictures were taken at a munitions factory. If it were so, they would have had the name of the factory on their uniform. The uniforms would not be capable of rolling up legs or sleeves, and definitely no collars due to the chance of "det" dust getting caught in the creases. They would not have been permitted to wear outside shoes — shoes have nails in them. And they aren't wearing turbans to protect their hair. And they wouldn't be outside unless it was for a formal photo op.

“So, I think these photos were taken when your mom Sylvia worked at Connaught Labs before she worked at the munitions factory. 

“I hope this helps a bit. In the newspaper item, she mentioned that she worked at a place where she had to fill munitions bigger than what was used for rifles, and that she loved running through the hallways. This sounds like GECO, especially when she mentioned that she left because of the tetryl rash. Classic GECO. “