MACNEILL, WILLIAM HOWE KIRK M.M.

By the 15 Oct. '44 the east of the Scheldt was cleared enough for the deployment of Field Artillery and the Regiment moved to Biervliet, Netherlands, the same day. As 'B' Troop occupied their gun position, a lone stray mortar landed close, killing one man (Gunner Walter KWIATKOSKI L/10760) and wounding another. The Scheldt fight was, for the Regiment, a series of daily moves through Groede, Cadzand, Retranchement, Netherlands to Knokke, Belgium. During this period the FOO's were forward most of the time and had to contend with constant shelling, small arms fire and mines. 34 Battery had hard luck with their operations in the initial stages of the fight. One the 21 Oct. '44 'A' Troop operation crew in the carrier were following up the forward Infantry. Captain BELYEA had gone forward with his signaller (MACNEILL) on foot, due to the cross country fighting. The carrier ran over a mine killing Gunner MACNEILL W.H.Kirk, who received the Military Medal for his outstanding and untiring devotion to his work. The other two members of the crew, Gunner HISTED and Gunner RAHM were thrown clear and uninjured.

Military Medal:
On July 8, 1944 on reaching the objective of the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Cussy, France) the Observation Post Tank ran into a trap. The OP Officer joined the Company Commander in a slit trench about one hundred yards from the tank to be available if Artillery support were required and to provide communications to the Battalion Commander through the Artillery Commanding Officer's representative at Battalion H.Q., all other means of communcation from this Company having failed.

At this time the position was under heavy fire from mortar and artillery and our troops were pinned to the shelter of slit trenches and etcetera for quite a period. During this period the line from the slit trench to the tank was thrice out by high explosive fragments. Gunner MACNEILL laid this line originally and each time repaired it immediately at great risk but with complete disregard for his personal safety. His efforts kept the Observation Post functioning and provided the Battalion with it's only means of communication with this leading Company.