At 0600 hrs 15-Dec-43 “C” Coy The 48th Highlanders of Canada was attacked by two companies of enemy West of S. LEONARDO AT (MR 309121).  A/Sgt Melvin was directing the fire of his pl when Pte LeBlanc drew his attention to one German gp which had worked its way round with a machine gun to the rear of the pl position.  A/Sgt Melvin made a quick appraisal of the situation and immediately, together with Pte LeBlanc began firing at the enemy poison and crawling toward it.  After wounding three of the enemy, they rushed the position and wiped it out, killing one officer and two other ranks, wounding seven other ranks and taking five unwounded other ranks prisoner.

The initiative, prompt action and exemplary bravery of the is NCO under fire eliminated an unexpected danger to the Coy and contributed greatly to its success in beating off the enemy attack and inflicting a total of 27 casualties without the loss of a single man.