Our regimental history, Dileas, states: “Two of Lt. Handley’s sections and all of Lt. Naylor’s were into the ground, unable to move. A young English lad, Cpl. William Frederick Kay, and the third section of No. 17 Platoon, rose to the occasion. Cpl. Kay was on Lt. Handley’s far right flank; his section was the whiplash in the swing. He just kept on going, leading his daring little group of 5 Highlanders along dead ground. Kay was within 20 yards of the topmost German position, and still unobserved, when he suddenly launched a surprise attack from its flank. It was an important and formidable position; 17 Germans were in it; they had three machine guns, all firing at Dog in the valley. A furious bomb battle broke out. Through wounded in the arm, Cpl. Kay himself hurled 2 38 grenades into and around the position. Kay charged, with his Tommy-gun stuttering as he leapt. Kay’s captured post had been the German’s most dominant. They had no conception of the true strength of the surprise force of the Highlanders, now only a wounded corporal and 2 fit men. They saw Lt. Handley’s platoon preparing a frontal thrust, and gave up.”

Cpl Kay would be wounded on 23 May 1944, the second day of the successful breaching of the Hitler Line at Pontecorvo. Kay was again commended for his gallant action and leadership.