Aubrey Cosens
Aubrey Cosens | |
---|---|
Born | Latchford, Ontario, Canada | 21 May 1921
Died | 26 February 1945 near Uedem, Nazi Germany | (aged 23)
Buried | Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands |
Allegiance | Canada |
Service/ | Canadian Army |
Years of service | 1940–1945 |
Rank | Sergeant |
Battles/wars | World War II
|
Awards | Victoria Cross |
Aubrey Cosens VC (21 May 1921 – 26 February 1945) was a Canadian posthumous recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Military service
Aubrey Cosens was born in Latchford, Ontario[1] on May 21, 1921, the only son to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cosens. Shortly afterwards his family moved near Porquis Junction and this is where Cosens remained until he left school at 17 and went to work as a section hand on the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway.
A year after taking this job, the
In 1940 he joined
He was 23 years old and a
On the night of 25–26 February 1945 at Mooshof near Uedem, Germany, B and D Coys of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada led a series of attacks on German strongholds. During the battle his Platoon Commander was killed-in-action and the platoon took heavy casualties. Sergeant Cosens assumed command of the four survivors of his platoon whom he placed in position to give him covering fire. Running forward alone to a tank, he took up an exposed position in front of the turret and directed its fire. When a further counter-attack had been repulsed, he ordered the tank to ram some farm buildings into which the Germans attackers had retreated. He went in alone, killing 22 of the defenders and taking the rest prisoners. He then dealt similarly with the occupants of two more buildings, but was shot by a sniper when he went to report back to superior officers.[3]
Legacy
Aubrey Cosens was mentioned in
Little ships, the ones named for foot sloggers:
--
Grave/memorial at Buried at Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery in the Netherlands. Plot VIII. row H. Grave 2. Headstone.
See also
References
- ^ "Record Details for Aubrey Cosens (Canadian Infantry)". Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- ^ "Victoria Cross Bios - Aubrey Cosens". 14 April 2009.
- ^ "No. 37086". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 May 1945. pp. 2607–2608.
- ^ "A Heinlein Concordance". Archived from the original on 2004-03-23.