B73981 Pte John Kennerley was killed in action at the Rimini Line on a battlefield overlooked by a German Observation Post code named Kestrel
NOK: Son of Gordon and Nellie Kennerley, of Norwich, Ontario, Canada.
John Kennerley attested with the 48th Highlanders of Canada on 26 February 1940. He gave his Date of Birth as 22 Feb 1921 in Hyde County, England and was living at 102 Pendrith Avenue in Toronto. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs. Nellie Kennerley at RR3 Norwich, Ontario. His attestation paper stated that he had served with the Irish Regiment (militia) from November 1939 to February 1940.
He was sent for training with I (Rifle) TC, MD2 on13 March 1940, then SOS (Struck off strength) for overseas travel on 14 July 1940. (He managed to go temporarily AWOL and missed the first ship’s timing.) He arrived in England on 3 August 1940 and was assigned to No 1 CIHU (Canadian Infantry Holding Unit) as a member of the 48th Highlanders. In England with the battalion, he was attached to 2 Bde RCE from 9 May 41 to 31 May 41 and again from 7 July 41 to 22 August 41 during which he qualified as a Driver Mechanic. He was transferred back to 1 CIHU (48th Highlanders) on 27 Aug 41 and returned to the 48th on 15 October 1942. He was given 5 days leave from 4 June to 9 June 43 but remained in England with the Holding Unit when the regiment sailed on 28 June for the Sicily landings on 10 July. (Other elements of his records suggest he may have been under discipline and left as a future reinforcement.)
Pte Kennerly left England by ship on 26 October 43 arriving in Italy on 9 November, placed on the 48th Highlanders’ X-4 list while travelling to the battalion. He was taken on strength from the X-4 list on 24 December 1943. On that day the battalion was over 2 miles behind the German lines in a move to outflank Ortona. So, he would most likely have been placed with the HQ company who remained behind. (only the infantry companies had penetrated the German lines.)
He was with the battalion therefore, for their defensive position at the Arielli River, conducting aggressive patrols into the German lines to identify positions and strength; then the Liri Valley and the breaching of the Hitler Line near Monte Cassino in May 44 and, the Gothic Line (on the Adriatic side) beginning 17 August 1944. During this period, he had his Driver Mechanic qualification upgraded on 25 July 44.
He was killed in action on 16 September 1944 in the Rimini Line, the last of the Gothic Line defences. A passage from one of our histories describes that battle.
“Rimini Line. The 48th returned seven days later to the same spot, with orders to drive toward Rimini, eight kilometres away. To the left of their route was a ridge with a knoll at its end, code-named Kestrel. Crossing the start line at 0300 hours on the 16th, Baker Company immediately met a cluster of Spandau machine guns and Panzer tanks. Dog Company, with A Squadron of the 48th Royal Tank Regiment, moved to help. Able, joined up with B Squadron and with Charlie on the other flank, advanced along a dry streambed to within 250 metres of their objective. Then the Observation Post on the knoll spotted them and shells poured in. Dog, failing to pass through Baker, charged through the wall of fire and dug in on their objective, one which to brigade planners in the rear was a pivotal location. On the ground one could see that it was flat, open, and useless. The CO ordered Charlie and Able back to a wadi to wait for night. The day had been costly, the most casualties in the Gothic line to date. The next afternoon at 1430 hours, the 48th resumed the attack. Charlie fought out of a check as its lead platoon, under Sergeant Andrew Gauthier, made 500 metres to their objective and dug in. Able was deluged by fire from the German 88s, yet persevered. Thirty metres from their objective Sergeant Stuart Montgomery led the charge to complete the task, throwing seventeen grenades to clear a strong point, then personally repelled a counterattack. The fire directed from Kestrel increased yet again. To cover a tactical withdrawal to a better position, CSM Vic Jackson stayed in the open and laid down smoke from a 2” mortar. Then, seeing Germans infiltrating between the two lead companies, the CO pulled them back. Able and Charlie Companies, now severely under strength, were consolidated into one. Three Military Medals were awarded – Gauthier, Montgomery and Jackson.”