Pte John William Easter of West Point,  Prince Edward Island enlisted in early 1943. Following basic training with the PEI Highlanders he was sent to England joining the West Nova Scotia Regiment on 23 Sept 1943. He was sent to Italy, joining the 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders on 30 November. He was wounded on 31 December 1943 near San Tomasso as the 48th Highlanders, having successfully penetrated 1 1/2 km behind the German lines west of Ortona, was chasing the Germans who were now abandoning their defence of Ortona.

When the regiment transferred in May 44 to the east coast Pte Easter, now in Baker Company, participated in the advance up the Liri Valley and the 48th Highlanders’ unassisted breaching of the vaunted Hitler line south of Pontecorvo on 22 May. Pte Easter was killed in action  as the battalion was expanding the beachhead so that the rest of the Brigade  could pass through to complete the full penetration of the Hitler Line.

NOK: Son of George and Florence Easter, of O’Leary, Prince Edward Island, Canada.