B124681 Cottrell, Walter Jack enlisted in Military District No. 3, in the southern Ontario area. As it is not a number assigned to the 48th Highlanders this suggests he came to the regiment after enlisting, most likely  overseas. There were two entries  in the Pt 2 Orders, attached to the 48th Highlanders War Diary of June 1944:

. Internal Posting: posted from X-4 list (3 Bn) to X-4 list (4 Bn) on 31 May

. Posted from X-4 list (4 Bn) to X-4 list (3 Bn) on 13 June.

The X-4 lists are members of the 48th Highlanders who are in theatre and can be called forward as reinforcements. The 3 Battalion and 4 Battalion were different locations/groups of Highlanders. Personnel in the X-4 lists could be new to theatre, transferees from other units or have been in hospital in theatre then when recovered sent to the X-4 battalion.

The conclusion is that he was with the 1st Battalion in Italy. In May 44 the battalion was in the Liri Valley advancing to the Hitler Line and then breaching the Hitler Line on 22/23 May. In late May and all June they were at rest in Piedmonte d’Alife recovering from the Liri and Hitler Line battles. It is likely he was in the Liri Valley and Hitler Line battles. (More research or Service Records tbd)