Howard S Webb enlisted with the 48th Highlanders of Canada in Toronto on 19 June 1940 and was given the service number B74476. His date of birth was 24 September 1907 and religion Church of England. After some training in Ontario (Camp Borden near Orillia) he sailed to England to join the 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders.

While with the battalion, which had moved to Scotland on 30 April 1943 to practice sea landings prior to sailing to Sicily, he was given 5 days leave from 24 to 29 May. On 28 June 1943 he embarked, with the 1st Battalion, on HM Troopship Derbyshire, and landed on the beaches at Pachino, Sicily on 9 July. At that time, he was a platoon Sergeant in Able Company, shown as Sgt Howie Webb. His rank was confirmed in Part 2 Orders on 11 August 1943. Our regimental history “Dileas” names him on 13 October 1943 in the battle to take Campobasso, Italy, having served as a Platoon Sergeant for the battles in Sicily from 9 July to late August then the battles chasing the Germans out of the toe of Italy and up the Adriatic coast to Campobasso.

Sgt Webb returned to England and joined the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada,  part of Operation Pouch In which battle experienced Officers and Senior NCOs were sent back to provide their experience and leadership to the battalions in the other divisions prior to the D-Day landings. With the QOR Webb was promoted to Company Sergeant Major.

NOK: mother, Mrs. H.S. (Senior) living at 130 Kenilworth Avenue, Toronto and in a later document, his wife Ada at 41 Scarboro Beach Road, Toronto. (The number 37 Scarboro Beach was in an earlier document.).