AWARD of DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL to Corporal William Frederick KAY Canadian Infantry Corps |
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I have the honour to recommend CORPORAL WILLIAM,
FREDERICK KAY for an immediate award for conspicuous gallantry in action.
On July 18, 1943, while "D" Company of The 48th HIGHLANDERS OF CANADA were
occupying forward positions on a hill they came under fire from enemy
snipers and machine guns.
16 and 17 Platoons were sent out around the right flank to engage them.
Soon they came under heavy concentrated fire from numerous positions on top
of a ridge in front of them.
Another attack was immediately sent in and two of the sections were again
pinned by fire.
CORPORAL 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 about seventeen Germans, three machine guns and appeared
to be the main position.
The section led by CORPORAL KAY advanced in the face of machine gun fire
and grenades. CORPORAL 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 a full company
of Germans along the ridge.
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