During house clearing on the right side of San Tommaso’s main street. Pte Balfour (the son of a Toronto Councilor) of Charlie Company was on the flank of the fight by Able Company as the German garrison resisted as the Highlanders pushed them out of the town. San Tommaso was part of the mopping up operation after the 48th had penetrated undetected 1.2 km behind the German lines and fought a three-day, all-round battle which drove the Germans back and threatened the only road in and out of Ortona that the Germans could use. Ortona was abandoned on the 27th.

NOK: Son of David A. and Grace G. Balfour, of Toronto, Ontario.