B74170 Pte. Laing, Gerald enlisted in early 1940. Following training in Ontario at No. 2. Canadian Infantry (Rifle) Training, 48th Canadian Depot, he was transferred on 14 July 1940 to proceed overseas as replacement to the 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders of Canada. Laing was wounded on 28 December 1943 as the battalion advanced from “Cemetery Hill” to outflank the town of Ortona and cut off the only access in and out of the town for the Germans.
B74170 Pte Laing, Gerald enlisted in Toronto with the 48th Highlanders in early 1940. He trained at No. 2 Cdn Infantry (rifle) Training Centre and on 14 July 1940 was Struck Off Strength to be deployed overseas as reinforcement and joined the 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders of Canada in England. Pt 2 Order of June 43 shows he was given 5 days leave from 3 to 8 June 1943 while the battalion was doing sea landing training in Scotland. With the 1st Battalion he embarked at Gourock Scotland on HM Troopship Derbyshire which sailed on 28 June 1943 for the landing at Pachino, Sicily on 9 July 1943.
On 27 July 1943, while in Sicily, he was Struck off Strength of the battalion to hospital (Sick not wounded) to 4 Field Ambulance. He returned to the battalion before they left Sicily on 3 September.
Pte Laing was wounded on 28 December 1943 when the battalion was chasing the Germans who had abandoned the town of Ortona on the 27/28 night. The 48th on 24 December had penetrated at night in single file, undetected, over 2 miles behind the German lines and established an all-round defensive position to the west of Ortona which threatened the only roads to Ortona that the Germans could use for resupply or retreat. After three days, during which the 48th beat off all German attempts to dislodge them, the Germans withdrew both from the 48th Highlanders’ position and Ortona. Laing was wounded either on the last day at the position or the first day of the chase.
His papers stated he was a member of the United Church.
He married in England in 1944 so he must have been sent back to the UK, perhaps after being wounded near Ortona. He was discharged in England where he stayed after the war until the 1970s, then returning to Canada.
NOK: Mrs. Eileen R. Laing – mother – 64 Ellsworth Avenue, Toronto.
Gerald laing was my father. He married my mother who was english in 1944. He stayed in england as my mother would not go to live in canada. I was born in 1945 in july. I still have a canadian passport.My parents divorced in 1970 and he eventually returned to canada. We lost contact with him. If anyone knows anything about him would you please let me know
Our records don’t cover in any depth service after the war. Given that your father stayed in England there would be no records in the museum for him after the war.
We did find a couple of records during the war.
. B74170 Pte Laing, Gerald enlisted in Toronto with the 48th Highlanders in late 1939 or early 1940. He trained at No. 2 Cdn Infantry (rifle) Training Centre and was Struck Off Strength from there to be deployed overseas as reinforcement and joined the 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders of Canada in England. Pt 2 Order of June 43 shows he was given 5 days leave from 3 to 8 June 1943 while the battalion was doing sea landing training in Scotland. With the 1st Battalion he embarked at Gourock Scotland on HM Troopship Derbyshire which sailed on 28 June 1943 for the landing at Pachino, Sicily on 9 July 1943.
On 27 July 1943, while in Sicily, he was Struck off Strength of the battalion to hospital (Sick not wounded) to 4 Field Ambulance. He returned to the battalion before they left Sicily on 3 September.
Pte Laing was wounded on 28 December 1943 when the battalion was chasing the Germans who had abandoned the town of Ortona on the 27/28 night. The 48th on 24 December had penetrated at night in single file, undetected, over 2 miles behind the German lines and established an all-round defensive position to the west of Ortona which threatened the only roads to Ortona that the Germans could use for resupply or retreat. After three days, during which the 48th beat off all German attempts to dislodge them, the Germans withdrew both from the 48th Highlanders’ position and Ortona. Laing was wounded either on the last day at the position or the first day of the chase.
His papers stated he was a member of the United Church, born 29 November 1920 and gave as next of kin his mother, Mrs. Eileen R Laing at 64 Ellsworth Avenue, Toronto.
We don’t find him in our records again, although our records have some holes in them. You stated that he married in England in 1944 so he must have been sent back to the UK, perhaps after being wounded near Ortona, or later in the Italian campaign. You will need his Service Records to understand when he returned to England and when he was discharged.
If you want to get his official Service Records they are at Library and Archives Canada. Also, you can download our history of the 1st Battalion overseas which will let you see what the battalion, and therefore your father, was doing during the times he was with the battalion. If you wish a memo explaining how to do these, send a research request through our Website.
If you have a photo, or photos, of your father please send them to us and we will add them to his page in our records and on our website.