VICTORIA CROSSES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25852, 24 May 1945, Page 6

VICTORIA CROSSES

GALLANT ALLIED SOLDIERS ONE POSTHUMOUS AWARD RUGBY, May 22. The award of three Victoria Crosses (one posthumous) is announced tonight. The recipients are Naik Gian Singh, of the Fifteenth Punjab Regiment, Indian Army, Sergeant Cosens (posthumously), of the Queen’s Own Rifles, Canada, and Major Frederick Tiltson, of the Essex Scottish Regiment, Canadian Infantry Corps. The citation in connection with Singh’s award states that it was essens tial that the Japanese be dislodged from the water supplies within his position. They were well concealed in foxholes along a cactus hedge, and Singh soon observed the enemy some 20 yards ahead. Ordering a light machine gunner to cover him, he rushed the foxholes, firing his tommy-gun. He was wounded in the arms, yet continued alone, hurling grenades. He killed several Japanese. Then, again ignoring danger to himself and despite his wounds, went on and captured singlehanded an anti-tank gun which was threatening our tanks, which also were advancing. Singh was ordered to the regimental aid post, but, in spite of his wounds, requested permission ■ to lead his section until the whole action was completed. In Holland, on the night of February 25, Sergeant Cosen’s battalion launched an attack on the hamlet of Mooshof to capture ground considered essential for the successful development of future operations. Cosens, when his platoon commander was killed, assumed command of four survivors, whom he placed in position to give him covering fire while he ran across open ground under heavy mortar and shell fire to his remaining supporting tank, where, regardless of danger, he took up his place in front of the turret and directed its fire. After a further counter-attack had been repulsed, Cosens ordered the tank to attack three German-occupied farm buildings. 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 also entered the second and third buildings, and personally killed or captured all the occupants under intense machine-gun and small-arms fire. Just afterwards Cosens was shot through the head and killed instantaneously.

When the Second Canadian Division had been given the task of breaking through the strongly-fortified Ochwald Forest defence line across some 500 yards of flat, open country in face of intense enemy fire, Major Tiltson personally led his company in the attack. Though wounded in the head he continued to lead his men forward through a belt of wire 10 feet deep to the enemy trenches, and when the platoon on his left came under heavy fire from a machine-gun post he dashed forward and silenced it with a grenade. With outstanding gallantry he pressed on with the main force to the second line of defences, which were on the edge of the woods, where he was severely wounded in the hip and fell. However, he struggled to his feet and rejoined his men as they reached the trenches and led them in vicious hand-to-hand fighting to clear the position, which he and his men held despite numerous counter-attacks. When the ammunition supply problem became serious he repeatedly crossed the bul-let-swept ground to the company on the right flank to carry grenades, rifle and Bren ammunition to the troops and to replace the damaged wireless set in order to re-establish communications with battalion! headquarters. On his last trip he was wounded for a third time, but would not submit to medical attention until he had given complete instructions as to the defence plan. .