Citation(s);
Military service
Burial/memorial information
Son of First World War veteran Charles E. Cosens and Yvonne Cosens, of Latchford, Ontario. Shortly after his birth his family moved to Porquis Junction, near Iroquois Falls, Ontario and he was educated in the Porquis Junction School. He left school in 1938 to work with his father on the railway as a second hand.
He left Porquis Junction in 1939 to join the Royal Canadian Air Force but his application was rejected. Finally, in 1940, he went to Hamilton, Ontario and was accepted by the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Hamilton) Regiment. He served with them in Canada, Jamaica and England; then transferred to the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada in the summer of 1944 and was soon promoted from corporal to sergeant.
The citation in the London Gazette of 18th May, 1945, gives the following details: In Holland, on the night 25/26th February, 1945 the 1st Battalion The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada attacked the hamlet of Mooshof. Sergeant Cosens' platoon, with tanks in support, had as their objective enemy strong-points in three farm-buildings. They were twice beaten back and were then fiercely counterattacked. Their casualties were heavy, including the platoon commander killed. Sergeant Cosens assumed command of the few survivors of the platoon, and placed them so as to give him covering fire while he crossed open ground to the one remaining tank and directed its fire. After a further counter-attack had been repulsed, Sergeant Cosens ordered the tank to attack the three farm-buildings, the remaining men of his platoon following in close support. He himself entered the three buildings in turn, alone, and killed or captured all the occupants. Immediately afterwards he was shot by a sniper, and died almost instantly. His outstanding gallantry, initiative and determined leadership resulted in the capture of a position which was vital to the success of the future operations of the Brigade.
Digital gallery of Sergeant Aubrey Cosens
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Photo of Aubrey Cosens
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Photo of Aubrey Cosens
This photo of Sergeant Cosens shows him wearing a beret with the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada "Big 2" cap badge. Contrast this to the usual photo (in Victoria Cross winners' collage) which was taken of him while he was with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (with his Arygll's Glengarry). -
Telegram
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Newspaper Clipping
This article by Ross Munro, on Sgt. Aubrey Cosens, is from the March 13, 1945 Ottawa Citizen. -
Newspaper clipping
From the Toronto Telegram March 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
From the Owen Sound Sun Times May 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper Clipping
Newspaper clipping -
Newspaper clipping
From the Edmonton Bulletin May 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Medals
This photo was taken by Captain Craig Cameron in June 2000. The medals of Seregeant Cosens' and his portrait are on display at Moss Park Armoury, Toronto. The Victoria Cross in the collection is a replica. The original VC is displayed at the Canadian Rifles Glenbow Museum in Calgary, Alberta. -
Cenotaph
Barrie Military Park, Canadian Victoria Cross Recipients, Cenotaph -
Salute
Members of the Canadian contingent salute while paying their respects at the grave of Victoria Cross winner, Sergeant Aubrey Cosens, who is buried at the Groesbeek Commonwealth cemetery in the Netherlands. Department of National Defence photo: July 22, 2004, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. -
Photo of Aubrey Cosens
Gravemarker -
Gravemarker
Sergeant Aubrey Cosen's gravemarker. <br>Photo by Geoff Winnington-Ball, Maple Leaf Up. -
Grave Marker
Photo taken during the 55th Aniversary of the Holland Campaign. -
Grave Marker
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Aubrey Cosens
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Aubrey Cosens
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Aubrey Cosens
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Aubrey Cosens
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Aubrey Cosens
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Aubrey Cosens
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 505 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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