Tag Archives: victoria cross

Combat, Remembrance, Second World War

26 February 1945: More than a VC

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Aubrey Cosens’ Victoria Cross, now in the Canadian War Museum.

The Regiment usually recognizes 26 February as the anniversary of the action to capture the farmhouse at Mooshoff for which Sergeant Aubrey Cosens was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross – the only one awarded to a QOR soldier in the Second World War – and quite rightly deserved. However, our veterans often referred to the actions that day as “our toughest scrap.” This was part of “Operation Blockbuster” and February 26 was the third deadliest action the QOR would see during the war. Four officers were killed and three wounded; twenty-eight other ranks were killed, and five later died of wounds; sixty other ranks were wounded; and one battle injury resulted.

Rifleman Charles Nahwegezhik

One of those who died of wounds received on the 26th was the young Indigenous Rifleman Charles Nahwegezhik who was posthumously awarded the Military Medal.

“…Finally the platoon had to withdraw. Rifleman Nahwegezhic refused to go back and stayed behind with his Bren gun to cover the withdrawal. His accurate and determined fire enabled the balance of his platoon to pull back and reorganize for a further successful attack. In displaying this supreme courage and devotion to duty Rifleman Nahwegezhic was in large measure responsible for the capture of the platoon objective.”

Wounded Lieutenant Lloyd Carleton McKay who survived the war, was awarded the Military Cross for “his gallant and distinguished services” in this action.

Below is a list of the thirty-four QOR killed in action on 26 February and two soldiers who died of their wounds on the 27th and 28th. The oldest two were 35, the youngest one 18. Many had joined the QOR as reinforcements just weeks before.

All are buried in the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands where the local Dutch citizens continue to honour their memories through their Faces to Graves Foundation.

Today we remember them all and invite you to read their stories.

Service Number
Highest Rank Received
Full Name
Birth Date
age
Cemetery
Grave Reference
B157584 Rifleman 3 Jul 1909 35 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands X. H. 16.
L91715 Rifleman 22 Sep 1922 23 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. D. 6.
B56077 Rifleman 19 May 1921 23 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. D. 9.
B116330 Rifleman 12 Mar 1926 19 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 1.
L57848 Lieutenant 29 Apr 1923 21 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 9.
B64802 Lieutenant 29 Oct 1929 22 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 8.
C64183 Corporal 23 Mar 1915 30 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 14.
B46495 Sergeant 21 May 1921 23 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 2.
B117972 Rifleman 12 Oct 1925 18 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. D. 5.
B149901 Rifleman 30 Jul 1925 19 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. D. 3.
B36737 Lance Corporal 8 Dec 1921 23 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands XVI. H. 1.
B44572 Rifleman 19 Jul 1923 21 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 4.
B145438 Corporal 18 Mar 1925 20 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 3.
G53534 Lance Corporal 3 Jan 1923 21 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. B. 11.
K46136 Lieutenant 18 Apr 1922 23 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 10.
B162294 Rifleman 20 Feb 1922 23 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. D. 7.
B159825 Rifleman 3 May 1925 19 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 7.
B103245 Rifleman 26 Mar 1925 20 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 15.
B124032 Rifleman 7 Oct 1912 32 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. B. 14.
F7471 Rifleman 14 Nov 1920 24 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 6.
B63407 Rifleman 17 Jun 1922 22 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. D. 8.
B52575 Rifleman 27 Jun 1918 26 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands XVI. G. 13.
B36812 Corporal 21 Apr 1920 23 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. D. 10.
B157996 Rifleman 6 Jan 1925 20 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. B. 13.
Lieutenant 8 Oct 1918 26 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 12.
B157100 Rifleman 11 July 1924 20 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. D. 4.
B145134 Rifleman 26 Sep 1923 21 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. D. 1.
B157668 Rifleman 21 Jan 1925 20 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. B. 12.
A104737 Rifleman 11 Sep 1917 27 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 13.
K46678 Rifleman 12 Jun 1920 24 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. D. 2.
K76048 Rifleman 27 May 1909 35 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. H. 11.
B157616 Lance Corporal 11 Feb 1925 20 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. D. 11.
B149466 Rifleman 14 Nov 1923 21 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. B. 9.
B131997 Rifleman 19 Jul 1924 20 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. B. 16.
K15645 Rifleman 27 Jan 1922 23 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. B. 15.
B9251 Rifleman 17 Nov 1918 27 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands VIII. F. 16.
Second World War

Victoria Cross Transfer to Canadian War Museum

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On Monday, 26 February 2024, members of the serving Regiment, the Regimental Trust, and the Regimental Museum and Archive, oversaw the transfer of Sergeant Aubrey Cosens’ Victoria Cross to the Canadian War Museum. While our museum would have been proud to exhibit this valuable piece, we have never been able to display it securely. As a result, it has been held in secure storage for many years.
This historic artifact, important not only to Regimental history but also that of the country, will finally be given the recognition and access that it truly deserves. In due course, it will be added to the Canadian War Museum’s existing Cosens exhibit.
Those in attendance were Honorary Colonel Major General David Fraser (Ret’d), Honorary Lieutenant Colonel Manjat Minas, Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Chris Boileau, Regimental Sergeant Major Chief Warrant Officer Justin Thorn, Regimental Trust President Major Tony Schultz (Ret’d), Trust member Lieutenant Colonel John Fotheringham (Ret’d) and Regimental Museum Director Major John Stephens (Ret’d).

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Learn more about Cosen’s actions in this CBC Interview:

1963 video of the 1st Battalion taking a detachment to Mooshof Farm to dedicate a plaque to Sergeant Aubrey Cosens, VC on August 29, 1963. They also visited Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery and placed a wreath on Cosens’ grave.

First World War

RCMI Installs Captain Charles Rutherford’s Pistol

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Captain Charles Smith Rutherford, VC, MC, MM
Captain Charles Smith Rutherford, VC, MC, MM

The Royal Canadian Military Institute’s museum collection was started in 1890 and it now holds many significant items. For example there is the Colt pistol used by Captain Charles Rutherford, V.C., to capture 80 Germans and 2 machine gun posts, for which he won the Victoria Cross in August 1918. Rutherford was born on a farm in Colborne Ontario on 9 January 1892. He joined The Queen’s Own Rifles in 1916, transferred to the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles and went off to war.

At 26 years of age, Rutherford was in command of an assault party during the 4th Battle of the Scarpe near Monchy, France on 26 August 1918. He found himself a considerable distance ahead of his men when he confronted a strong enemy party. With a masterful bluff, while brandishing his revolver, he took 45, prisoners including two officers and three machine-guns. The lieutenant then observed gunfire from another pillbox that was holding up the assault, so he attacked with his troops, capturing another 35 prisoners and their guns. The last sentence of his VC citation reads, “The bold and gallant action of this officer contributed very materially to the capture of the main objective and was a wonderful inspiration to all ranks in pressing home the attack on a very strong position”.

On 11 June 1989, C.S. Rutherford was the last winner of the Victoria Cross from World War I to die. He was 97 years of age and is buried at in Union Cemetery, Colborne, Ontario. His story is one to be remembered as his combat revolver goes on display once again.

By Gil Taylor

Riflemen

Sergeant Aubrey Cosens, VC

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“In Holland on the night of 25th-26th February 1945, the 1st Battalion, The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada launched an attack on the hamlet of Mooshof, to capture ground which was considered essential for the development of future operations.

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 Aubrey Cosens’ during the battle were recognized with the posthumous award of the Commonwealth’s highest award for valour, the Victoria Cross. Read more about Cosens and the full citation of this Victoria Cross here.

Read more here: The Regiment’s “Toughest Scrap” February 26, 1945  Actions on and around the 26 February, 1945 for which Sergeant Aubrey Cosens was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. Researched and written by former Queen’s Own Rifleman, Colonel (retired) William C. Ball.