The battle honour “San-Martino-San Lorenzo” was earned by the 48th Highlanders of Canada in the latter stages of the Canadian advance on Rimini on the east coast of Italy. The 48th Highlanders had already suffered severe casualties during the heavy fighting at Misano Ridge between September 3 and 5, 1944. After capturing the ridge, the 48th were taken out of the line for a brief respte in the town of Cattolica before resuming the drive towards Rimini.
The 1st Canadian Infantry Division resumed its advance on Rimini on September 14. The 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade crossed the Marano River first, advancing towards a piece of high ground that anchored the end of the San Martino Ridge. That high ground, codenamed KESTREL, dominated all positions to the east. The 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade (including the Highlanders) would advance northwards towards Rimini, passing east of KESTREL. However, the 3rd Brigade had not subdued KESTREL in time. The Highlanders would advance under the guns and observation of the German defenders there.
The 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade began its attack on the morning of September 16. The Royal Canadian Regiment were on the right, attacking an airfield. The 48th Highlanders were on the left (west), closest to KESTREL. The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment were in depth. The 48th Highlanders advanced, and immediately ran into a strong position of German machine guns supported by accurate artillery fire directed from spotters on KESTREL. They made little headway that day and suffered 53 casualties, including 11 killed in action. Believing reports that the 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade had taken KESTREL, the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade attempted the same advance again the next day.
The 48th again faced serious opposition as the companies tried to claw their way foreward. Charlie Company quickly lost much of its leadership. Command of 13 Platoon fell to Sergeant Joe Gauthier; he seized upon an opportunity to push his platoon foreward and personally killed or wounded seven German soldiers in taking a position. He received the Military Medal for his actions. Lieutenant Freddie Williams, now the company commander, rallied the other two platoons to follow Sergeant Gauthier’s breach.
The companies continued to grind foreward, but their success presented a new problem. German soldiers had either infiltrated their lines or regrouped after being bypassed. The Highlanders were taking fire from their rear, even as they faced determined opposition to their front and accurate artillery fire directed from KESTREL. The second day ended with 32 casualties, of which two were killed.
On the night of September 18, the full force of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division was directed at KESTREL. The 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade, with the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment attached, outflanked KESTREL in the early hours of September 19. The positions on KESTREL fell silent and Lieutenant Colonel Don Mackenzie sent Dog Company up onto the high feature to confirm that the position was neutralized. It was, and the 48th soon resumed the advance towards Rimini.
by Captain Sadman Khan
