Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Corporal

Unit:

No.17 Platoon, D Company, 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders of Canada, 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Infantry Division, Canadian Army

Recommendation:
I have the honour to recommend U1834 Cpl Kay, W.F. for an immediate award for conspicuous gallantry in action. On 18 July 1943 while “D” Coy. 48th Highrs of Can. were occupying forward positions on a hill they came under fire from enemy snipers and machine guns.
16 and 17 Pls. were sent out around the right flank to engage them and soon came under heavy concentrated fire from numerous positions on top of a ridge in front of them.
An attack was immediately sent in and two sections were pinned by fire.
Cpl Kay immediately sized up the situation and led his section of five men around through some dead ground and attacked the highest position. This position contained three machine guns and about seventeen Germans and appeared to be the main position.
The section led by Cpl Kay advanced in the face of M.G. fire and grenades and Cpl Kay, though wounded in the arm, tossed two 36 grenades in the midst of the enemy and followed in with his Tommy gun blazing.
He personally accounted for about eight Germans and the section took care of the remainder.
When this enemy position fell, the remainder of the enemy abandoned the rest of the ridge and fled.
It is estimated that there was about a full Company of Germans along the ridge.