B79065 Pte Henry, Clarence enlisted on 24 June 1940 with the 48th Highlanders. Following training he was sent to England and the 1st Battalion. Henry remained in England when the battalion embarked on 28 June 1943 for the landings at Pachino, Sicily on 9 July.

On 11 August 1943 Pte Henry joined up with the active battalion from the X-4 List.  This list is members of the 48th Highlanders who are in theatre but in reserve, to be called up when needed. It is possible that he travelled to Sicily in the slow convoy and arrived when the Sicilian campaign was over, and the battalion was at rest at Militello from 13 August to 2 September. He is next recorded in the Reggio di Calabria region of the “toe” of Italy, just after the Canadian Army had crossed the Straits of Messina on 3 Sept. He was docked 7 days F.P and 7 days forfeit of pay for being AWOL 18 hours on 5 and 6 September 1943. He was with a group of 18 Highlanders, all charged with the same offence. The conclusion is that he was with the battalion when part of the battalion was “waiting” in the Reggio area, while other companies were going inland. The 19 of them likely took a night off in a local town.

An order in January 1944 did a change of Next of Kin address for Mrs. Minnie Henry (mother) to 119 Lawlor Avenue, Toronto in Toronto. On 25 July 1944 he was Taken On Strength of the X-3 list from 12 Cdn Infantry Brigade and returned to the Brigade on the next day. The X-3 lists are those soldiers in hospital.

The timings suggest that between 6 September 1943 and 25 July 1944 he was with the 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders, transferred to 12 Brigade (Headquarters) and was ill for one day at that time. During this period, the 48th and the Canadian Division advanced through the toe of Italy, to Campobasso on 3 October 1943, to Ortona and area in December 43, then transferred across Italy to the Liri Valley and the breaching of the Adolph Hitler Line in late May 44. The Canadians were then out of battle, regrouping before returning to the Adriatic on 18 August 44 to begin the advance through the Gothic Line beginning 26 August. (More research required to complete record.)

NOK: Mother – Mrs. Minnie Henry, 129 Bleecker Street, Toronto