Date of birth:

1912

Date of death:

1984

Service number:

177343

Nationality:

British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Vincent Cohen was a keen mountaineer first visiting the Alps at the age of sixteen. As a young man he used his talents as an artist to help to finance his climbing.
It was ironical that, following rigorous training for mountain warfare, he took part in the landings at Walcheren. His Battery less vehicles, departing from Breskens, landed at Flushing at 1 November 1944 to provide close support to 155 Brigade whose immediate task was the capture of Flushing. D Troop beached under smoke screen at approx 11.15hrs. Major Fairclough and Captain Cohen went forward to Recce "Dover" pill box (No.8) and the possibility of attacking over open sights. Major Fairclough was wounded by sniper at 13.50hrs and Captain Cohen assumed command of 452 Mountain Battery. These landings involved heavy fighting and many casualties.
Cohen would have followed a career as a painter but he was forced to utilise his talents in the commercial field. After spells with the de la Rue organisation and other concerns, he joined Metal Box where he was Design Manager at the time of his early retirement due to multiple sclerosis. He died in 1984.

Promotions:
March 15th, 1941: 2nd Lieutenant

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Captain

Unit:

1st Mountain Regiment RA, 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division, British Army

Awarded on:

October 11th, 1945

Recommendation:
“This officer has been a troop commander since the Unit came to NW Europe in October 1944. At Flushing when his battalion commander was wounded he commanded the battery in very difficult street fighting with complete calm and efficiency and enabled excellent fire support to be given to 155 Infantry Brigade.
During the past six weeks he has taken his OP party in support of 1st Commando Brigade over the Rhine, Weser, Alter and Elbe. He has on every occasion given invaluable support to the unit to which he was attached. Many times he has advanced with them through heavy enemy mortar and machine gun fire in order to occupy an OP from which he could best bring effective fire on the enemy.
He has at all times set a fine example to his men and given troops with whom he was working the greatest confidence. By his accurate shooting he has stopped enemy counter measures against our attacks and enabled our own troops to reach their objectives more easily and with fewer casualties.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35121 published on the 28 March 1941
  - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37302 published on the 9 October 1945
  - Chelsea Military Antiques
  - The Alpine Journal