On 15-Dec-43 C Company, The 48th Highlanders of Canada, were in position West of SAN LEONARDO at MR 309121.
At 0600 hours a determined attack was launched upon the position by two companies of the enemy. During the engagement Pte LeBLANC noticed that one German group had succeeded in working its way round to the rear of his platoon’s position with a machine gun. He opened fire on the group and called L/Sgt MELVIN’s attention to the danger.
Together L/Sgt MELVIN and Pte LeBLANC crawled towards the group’s position, firing at it and wounding three of its members. When they got close enough, in spite of heavy fire, they rushed in and wiped it out, killing one officer and two other ranks, wounding seven and taking five unwounded prisoners.
Pte LeBLANC’s promptness in calling attention to the danger together with the dash and determination with which this very gallant deed was done, removed the threat to the platoon position and materially assisted the Company in beating off, without loss, an attack which cost the enemy a total of 27 casualties.
