Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private

Unit:

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

Awarded on:

September 30th, 1944

Recommendation:
During the advance of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment into the Adolf Hitler Line on 23 May 1944, Private Emil Andrew Kidd, a stretcher bearer, was attached to "C" Company in the area Map Reference 744195. The company came under extremely heavy fire from at least four machine guns and rifles in steel emplacements. There was also intensive mortar fire and shelling. Casualties were numerous and soon Private Kidd was the only stretcher bearer left in the company. At approximately 0900 hours he himself was wounded while attending a Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry casualty. He attended two more casualties then crawled forward. The leading elements were held up by intense enemy fire and with absolute disregard for this maelstrom of bullets and shrapnel, Private Kidd located himself in an exposed position where he could keep the troops under observation. He attended the wounds of six men and moved them into the best available cover (Map Reference 745194) each time going through heavy fire. He would leave the wounded and go to the Regimental Aid Post only when ordered to do so by a Non-Commissioned Officer.
Private Kidd's outstanding courage and disregard of danger combined with his conscientious determination to care for his wounded gave the men of the company a great sense of confidence which helped them to hold their positions in this grave and dangerous situation.