Aubrey Cosens
Sergeant, Queen's Own Rifles of Canada. Canadian Infantry Corps
- Register No.
- 257 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- Queen's Own Rifles of Canada. Canadian Infantry Corps all Queen's Own Rifles of Canada VCs →
- Date of action
- 22–23 February 1945 on this day → all of 1945 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 22nd May, 1945 on this day → all of 1945 →
- Born
- 21st May, 1921 at Latchford, Ontario, Canada
- Died
- 26th February, 1945 at Mooshof, Holland. (killed in action)
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, Nijmegen, Holland
Digest of citation
On the night of 25th/26th February, 1945 at Mooshof, Holland, Sergeant Cosens assumed command of the four survivors of his platoon whom he placed in position to give him covering fire and then, running forward alone to a tank, took up an exposed position in front of the turret and directed its fire. When a further counter-attack had been repulsed and, on his orders, the tank had rammed some farm buildings, he went in alone, killing several of the defenders and taking the rest prisoners. He then dealt similarly with the occupants of two more buildings, but soon afterwards was killed by a sniper
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
COSENS, Aubrey. (reg No. 257).
Sergeant. Queen's Own Rifles of Canada. Canadian Infantry Corps.
London Gazetted on 22nd May, 1945.
Born on 21st May, 1921 at Latchford, Ontario, Canada.
Died on 26th February, 1945 at Mooshof, Holland. (killed in action) .
Memorial at Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, Nijmegen, Holland.
Digest of Citation reads: On the night of 25th/26th February, 1945 at Mooshof, Holland, Sergeant Cosens assumed command of the four survivors of his platoon whom he placed in position to give him covering fire and then, running forward alone to a tank, took up an exposed position in front of the turret and directed its fire. When a further counter-attack had been repulsed and, on his orders, the tank had rammed some farm buildings, he went in alone, killing several of the defenders and taking the rest prisoners. He then dealt similarly with the occupants of two more buildings, but soon afterwards was killed by a sniper.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, Nijmegen, Holland
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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