Lt. Cameron James L. Killoran graduated from the Canadian Officers Training Corp at Osgoode Hall at the University of Toronto on 20 September 1940, commission number 65533 and joined the 2nd Bn, 48th Highlanders in Toronto. Prior to university he had been a cadet in Stratford Collegiate from 1929-1935. A medallion, treasured by his family, displays Princess Elizabeth and the words HRH Princess Elizabeth on the reverse and on the obverse the wording George VI and Queen Elizabeth crowned 1937 around the outside and Their Majesty’s images in the centre. This may have been received by Lt Cameron while at Osgoode. He was appointed 2nd Lt. on 5 February 1941 and Lt. on 21 February 1942. and was in C Company. He took a Chemical Warfare Course, completing it on 12 June 1942.
Lt. Killoran was struck off strength of the 2nd Bn while at #2 Basic Training Centre on 22 July 1942 and proceeded overseas to join the 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders in the UK. The caricature below was created while with the battalion there.
On 16 April 1944 Lt. Killoran was taken on strength in Italy as a Training Increment of the 48th Highlanders from the battalion’s X-4 list (Highlanders available for reinforcement). He arrived at the 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders on 25 May, while the battalion was at rest at Piedmonte d’Alife following their successful, and single- handed breaching of the Adolph Hitler Line at Pontecorvo on 22/23 May, the first Canadian battalion to breach the line. Cameron was a platoon commander in Baker Company when the regiment moved to the Adriatic coast on 17 August to begin their advance through the in-depth Gothic Line defences, starting at the Metauro River crossing on the 26th.
On 28 August, at the Foglia River our regimental history Dileas states: “Lt. Cam Killoran of Baker Company had escaped the first trap. But was hit during the morning and evacuated with a serious head wound. He lost an eye, and it was sheer luck he did not lose his lifer as a gallant stretcher party carried him out. He needed proper medical care, so they could not wait for dark.” Following care in hospital in Italy Lt Cameron was placed on the x-8 list (Not available for reinforcement whose return to the UK has been authorized.) His return to Canada requires service records.
NOK: Father Judge James Killoran, Mother Violet at 86 John Street, Stratford.
After the war, Captain Killoran continued as a lawyer, being named Queen’s Counsel in 1960. He was Treasurer of the London Minor Hockey Association in 1961, a director of the Canadian Arthritic Society, Ontario Division and, President of the Irish Benevolent Society. He and his wife Mary had four children.
A donation to the museum in honour of Lt Killoran has been made by his daughter Angie Killoran
