Harry Russell Winter enlisted in the Brantford area with the 2nd/10th Dragoons and was given the service number B41717. (The Dragoons were allocated the number range B41601 to B42999). He was born in the Brantford area on 13 August 1918.
On 24 August 1943, just after his 35th birthday, Pte Winter was taken on strength of the 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders of Canada, from the battalions X-4 list (Highlanders available for reinforcement). The battalion was at rest at Militello, Sicily having completed the Sicilian campaign that began with the landings at Pachino on 10 July, 1943. Although the records state that Winter was “attached f.a.p. for 1 day only” he appears to have remained with the battalion for a period. On 14 November, 1943 Pte Winter was placed on the 48th’s X-3 list and sent to hospital. The battalion had completed its advance up the Adriatic coast of Italy, capturing Campobasso in October and in November were in the area of the town of Torella which the battalion had been sent to take to drive the German artillery out of range of Campobasso.
The Padre’s records of injuries do not list Pte Winter suggesting that he was sent to hospital suffering from malaria contracted in Sicily.
Family recollections are that Winter spent a “short time in Italy” and was “shot in his hand and arm” while there. After the war Harry Winter was one of the “originals” who started the Army/Navy/Air Force Club in Brantford. He died in 1976.
Service records will be required to describe his service from enlistment date to August 1963 and from November 1943 to the end of his service.
This page is supported by Pte Winter’s granddaughter, Brenda Winter.
