Killed in action on 30 January 1944 after the successful outflanking of Ortona by the 48th Highlanders in December 1943. The battalion was in the Arielli River area, in a defensive position conducting aggressive patrols into the German lines to determine their positions and strength.

B74077 Pte Tweddle, Ernest Alexander enlisted with the 48th Highlanders in Toronto on 11 March 1940. Following training  he was placed for overseas on 14 July 1940. However, after periods of AWOL he finally departed in early 1941. During his period in England Pte Tweddle had a challenging period of training, hospital at CCIHU in Witley in March 1941 and a series of “Disobediences” which earned him docking in pay followed by a 3 year sentence to Winchester Prison.  He was released early when he volunteered to go to Italy. He embarked from the UK on 26 October 1943, arriving in Italy on 9 November and was placed on the 48th Highrs X-4 list (Highlanders in theatre available for reinforcement). He joined the 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders on 24 December 1943 just as the battalion in the night of 23/24 December had penetrated in single file over 2 miles behind the German lines, setting up a defensive position that threatened the roads in and out of Ortona that the Germans relied upon for reinforcement and retreat. In January the battalion moved to the Arielli River location where Pte Tweddle was killed on the 30th.

NOK: Son of David and Rose Tweddle, of 62 Gowan Avenue, East York, Ontario.

In New Stevenston, Lanarkshire in North Scotland there is a memorial to soldiers from that area who were killed in action during the war. Pte Tweddle is listed, perhaps because of his family ties to Glasgow and the region.