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. An 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.