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Aubrey Cosens

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Aubrey Cosens Famous memorial Veteran

Birth
Latchford, Timiskaming District, Ontario, Canada
Death
26 Feb 1945 (aged 23)
Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Burial
Groesbeek, Berg en Dal Municipality, Gelderland, Netherlands Add to Map
Plot
Plot VIII, Row H, Grave 2
Memorial ID
View Source
World War II Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Latchford, Ontario, Canada, he served as a Sergeant in the 1st Battalion, Queen’s Own Rifles, Canada. On February 25-26, 1945, Sergeant Cosens’ platoon twice attacked German strong points located in three farm buildings at Mooshof, Germany. The platoon was twice beaten back by fierce counterattack and the platoon commander was killed. Sergeant Cosens assumed command of the platoon, now with himself, four men and some tank support. As his men provided covering fire, he ran across open ground to a tank and directed its fire on the farm buildings. Having ordered the tank to ram the first building, he entered it alone, killing several of the occupants and taking prisoners of the rest. He then continued alone into the second and third buildings, killing or capturing what remained of the enemy. Just after the action, Sergeant Cosens was shot by an enemy sniper and killed. For gallantry in the face of the enemy, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross on May 22, 1945.
World War II Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Latchford, Ontario, Canada, he served as a Sergeant in the 1st Battalion, Queen’s Own Rifles, Canada. On February 25-26, 1945, Sergeant Cosens’ platoon twice attacked German strong points located in three farm buildings at Mooshof, Germany. The platoon was twice beaten back by fierce counterattack and the platoon commander was killed. Sergeant Cosens assumed command of the platoon, now with himself, four men and some tank support. As his men provided covering fire, he ran across open ground to a tank and directed its fire on the farm buildings. Having ordered the tank to ram the first building, he entered it alone, killing several of the occupants and taking prisoners of the rest. He then continued alone into the second and third buildings, killing or capturing what remained of the enemy. Just after the action, Sergeant Cosens was shot by an enemy sniper and killed. For gallantry in the face of the enemy, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross on May 22, 1945.

Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith


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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: The Silent Forgotten
  • Added: Oct 23, 2003
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8016282/aubrey-cosens: accessed ), memorial page for Aubrey Cosens (21 May 1921–26 Feb 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 8016282, citing Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery and Memorial, Groesbeek, Berg en Dal Municipality, Gelderland, Netherlands; Maintained by Find a Grave.