Aubrey Cosens

Aubrey Cosens, VC, (21 May 1921 - 26 February 1945) was a Canadian (born in Latchford, Ontario) 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
Cosens was 23 years old and a sergeant in The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada during the Canadian Army's involvement in the Second World War.

On the night of 25-26 February 1945 at Mooshof near Uedem, Germany, 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 several 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.

Legacy
Aubrey Cosens was mentioned in Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers, albeit misspelled.

"'Little ships, the ones named for foot sloggers: Horatius, Alvin York, Swamp Fox, the Rog  herself,  bless her  heart, Colonel  Bowie,  Devereux, Vercingetorix, Sandino, Aubrey Cousens, Kamehameha, Audie Murphy, Xenophon, Aguinaldo --'"

Grave/memorial at Buried at Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery in the Netherlands. Plot VIII. row H. Grave 2. Headstone.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum in Casa Loma, Toronto.