GROESBEEK CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY
Gelderland
Netherlands
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GROESBEEK CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY Gelderland Netherlands |
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The village of Groesbeek is in the east of the
Netherlands and approx 10kms south east of the city of Nijmegen.
From the A73 motorway NIJMEGEN to VENLO take exit 3 (Afrit 3) MALDEN / GROESBEEK
/ MOOK / HEUMEN / OVERASSELT.
Follow signs for N271 MOOK.
Continue through the village of MOLENHOEK and in the village of MOOK turn left
at the roundabout (CWGC sign for MOOK WAR CEMETERY) onto the GROESBEEKSEWEG.
Continue for approx 4.5kms and then turn left at the roundabout onto the
PANNENSTRAAT.
Continue through the town where the road name changes to DORPSTRAAT.
Turn left onto BURGEMEESTER OTTENHOFFSTRAAT (CWGC Sign). After approx 100m turn
right (CWGC sign) onto ZEVENHEUVELENWEG.
The cemetery is approx 2kms along this road on the right.
The cemetery address is:-
Zevenheuvelenweg 38
6561 Groesbeek
Netherlands
GPS Location is:-
N 51 47 52
E 05 55 51
The Groesbeek Memorial stands within Groesbeek
Canadian War Cemetery.
Visitors are advised not to leave possessions lying visible in their car as
theft is common at the municipal car park in front of the cemetery
Wheelchair access to cemetery possible via main entrance. For further
information regarding wheelchair access, please contact our Enquiries Section on
telephone number 01628 507200.
Allied forces entered the Netherlands on 12
September 1944. Airborne operations later that month established a bridgehead at
Nijmegen and in the following months, coastal areas and ports were cleared and
secured, but it was not until the German initiated offensive in the Ardennes had
been repulsed that the drive into Germany could begin.
Most of those buried in GROESBEEK CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY were Canadians, many of
whom died in the Battle of the Rhineland, when the 2nd and 3rd Canadian Infantry
Divisions and the 4th Canadian Armoured Division took part in the drive
southwards from Nijmegen to clear the territory between the Maas and the Rhine
in February and March 1945. Others buried here died earlier or later in the
southern part of the Netherlands and in the Rhineland.
The cemetery contains 2,610 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, and
nine war graves of other nationalities.
Within the cemetery stands the GROESBEEK MEMORIAL, which commemorates by name
more than 1,000 members of the Commonwealth land forces who died during the
campaign in north-west Europe between the time of crossing the Seine at the end
of August 1944 and the end of the war in Europe, and whose graves are not known.
The following three pictures courtesy of Frits Kruishaar
The following two pictures are courtesy of Brian Budge
Victoria Cross:
AUBREY COSENS
Rank: Sergeant, Service No: B/46495, Date of Death: 26/02/1945, Age: 24, Regiment/Service: Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, R.C.I.C. 1st Bn. , Awards: V C, Grave Reference VIII. H. 2., Son of Charles E. and Yvonne Cosens, of Latchford, Ontario.
Citation: 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.
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