| On the night of February 26-27, 1945, Canada's Queen's Own Rifles launched an attack on the hamlet of Mooshof in Holland. Sergeant Cosens' platoon suffered heavy casualties and the commander was killed. Sergeant Cosens took command of the four survivors of his platoon. Under their covering fire, he reached the one remaining tank, rammed one building and, alone, killed or captured the defenders. Then, again alone, he entered two more buildings, killing or capturing the enemy occupants. Soon after he was shot and killed by an enemy sniper. For his heroics in death, Sergeant Cosens received the Victoria Cross, the Commonwealth's highest military decoration for bravery. During the Second World War, more than 42,000 Canadian families received similar telegrams informing them of the death of a loved one. RG 24-27775 |