"Sergeant Cosens'
platoon, with two tanks in support, attacked enemy strong points in
three farm buildings, but were twice beaten back by fanatical enemy
resistance and then fiercely counter-attacked, during which time the
platoon suffered heavy casualties and the platoon commander was killed.
"Sergeant Cosens at once assumed command of the only other four
survivors of his platoon, whom he placed in a position to give him
covering fire, while he himself ran across open ground under heavy
mortar and shell fire to the one remaining tank, where, regardless of
the danger, he took up an exposed place in front of the turret and
directed his fire. "After a further enemy counter-attack had been
repulsed, Sergeant Cosens ordered the tank to attack the farm buildings,
while the four survivors of his platoon followed in close support. After
the tank had rammed the first building he entered it alone, killing
several of the defenders and taking the rest prisoner.
"Single-handed he then entered the second and third buildings, and
personally killed or captured all the occupants, although under intense
machine-gun and small arms fire. "Just after the successful
reduction of these important enemy strong points, Sergeant Cosens was
shot through the head by an enemy sniper and died almost
instantly." Cosens was born in Litchfield, Ontario May 21, 1921. |