Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private

Unit:

D Company, 1st Battalion, The Loyal Edmonton Regiment, 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Infantry Division, Canadian Army

Awarded on:

December 23rd, 1943

Recommendation:
The Edmonton Regiment was ordered to attack point 736, a high feature north Regalbuto, 2 August 1943. The three mile approach to the objective was up a rising slope virtually devoid of cover, and from the height, enemy mortar, artillery and machine gun fire poured down on the advancing troops.
“B” Coy advanced some 2,000 yards, when the intensity of the enemy fire across the path of advance caused casualties and made a reorganization necessary.
A call came for stretcher bearers and from “D” Coy some 500 yards to the rear, Pte. Low and Pte. Colbeck volunteered.
Crawling from boulder to boulder, from hollow to hollow as they advanced up the slope, machine gun fire was seen to concentrate upon them, they were caught in snipers cross-fire, but still carried on.
After advancing 150 yards, Pte. Colbeck was wounded. Pte. Low stopped, in full view and fire of the enemy dressed the wounds of his comrade, and then dragged him behind a small rock that allowed some cover.
To his comrades, the further advance of this soldier could only end in sudden death, but to their amazement he continued on towards the wounded men. German fire appeared to centre around him. Bullets were seen kicking up the dust along the line of his path, but Pte. Low showing intense devotion to duty and conspicuous bravery, successfully crawled the remaining 300 yards and reached the wounded men.
In the open and under what seemed to his platoon murderous fire, he dressed the wounds of each of the three in turn, found cover for them and carried and aided them to it. Such was the nature of the wounds of these men, that it was later found that their injuries would have been fatal without his assistance. Pte. Low having completed his task returned under the same continuous fire to “D” Coy and resumed his first aid work.
Through the valour, conspicuous bravery and courage of Pte. Low, three wounded soldiers were rescued.

Supplement to the London Gazette, 23 December, 1943.