B72672 Pte Medland, Owen John (Brother of William) enlisted with the 48th Highlanders in September 1939 and sailed on the Reina del Pacifico with his brother. He was assigned to C Company. Records show him with the 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders in 1940 and 41 (three records of leave being granted) so he would have participated in the Foray to France in June 1940 in which the battalion, two weeks after the evacuation of the British and Allied forces from the beaches of Dunkerque, sailed to France, penetrated by train 300 km into France to Sable sur Sarthe, then being ordered to return to England commandeered their train at gunpoint and returned to the coast at St Malo, catching one of two remaining ships in the harbour.
He remained with the battalion, acting as Coastal defence in various locations on the coast, then in late April 1943 was participating in landing craft training at Troon. The battalion, as part of the 1st Canadian Division was preparing to sail on 28 June for the landings on the beaches at Pachino Sicily on 10 July 1943. However, on 27 April Pte Medland was sent to 4 Field Ambulance then the next day struck off strength of the 1st Battalion to 1 CIRU (at 14 Cdn General Hospital.)
Our records don’t show him after that date.
NOK: mother – Mrs. A. Medland, Forsythe Street, Oakville