On the morning of  16 December 1944, C Company of the 48th Highlanders attacked a group of buildings known as CASA BOSHI at MR 394345.  C-52868 Private Joseph Albert Bray was a Bren Gunner of 14 Platoon in C Company.

The position was strongly held, and the enemy machine gun and rifle fire from the position was intense.  In spite of this fire, Private BRAY’s section advanced steadily towards the brick shed, from which the final assault on the objective was to be made.  Before the shed was reached, however, the section came under small arms fire from the right flank.  The section commander was wounded in the neck and Private BRAY himself was seriously wounded in the stomach by fire from a Schmeisser.  Despite his wounds however, Private BRAY immediately took charge, rallied his section in a fire position and himself attacked the enemy firing on him. He engaged and killed with his Bren gun, two enemy armed with Schmeissers.  Having dispersed the post he returned to the shed.

He had hardly reached the spot when an enemy party about 12 in number made an immediate counter-attack.  Without hesitation Private BRAY moved back into the open and killed two of the advancing Germans and dispersed the remainder.  The enemy having reorganized again counter-attacked, and again Private BRAY, although wounded a second time by a bullet that broke his leg, continued to fire until the enemy had once more been driven off.

This soldier’s actions are worthy of the highest praise.  At great risk to his own life and despite serious wounds and weakness from loss of blood, Private BRAY showed supreme courage in the face of great odds.  Almost entirely due to his resolution and fortitude, an enemy counter attack in vastly superior numbers was broken and the platoon position saved.

Ref: Canada Gazette 14 – 7-Apr-1945 page 1477
Died of wounds 30-Dec-44