In Memory of
LEONARD ARTHUR DOW
Private, G/32177
Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, R.C.I.C.
who died 22 age
on 25 July 1943
Remembered with honour
AGIRA WAR CEMETERY, SICILY
AGIRA WAR CEMETERY, SICILY
Born 4 Feb 1921,Yarmouth, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, Canada;
Son of Leonard and Annie Dow, of St. John, New Brunswick.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 2009-08-05
Private Leonard Arthur Dow, Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, died of wounds received in action on 25 July 1943.Robert got wounded in action during the attack on the hill features east of Nissoria. Here is a part of their war diary of 25 July 1943:
"The enemy consisted of approximately one Battalion which opened fire. B-Coy were pinned down and the remaining companies were sent over the flanks. The enemy fire became so intense that Major Kennedy was sent back to Brigade to ask for immediate artillery support.
B-Coy overran the enemy position killing a number of Germans and capturing others. Extremely active mortars and numerous medium machine guns supported by three dug in Mark III tanks made it impossible to advance without heavy casualties. The CO, The Lord Tweedsmuir, got seriously wounded in the knee by a mortar shell and ordered a withdrawal before being evacuated himself. D-Coy were the rear guard and one section of B-Coy under Corporal Bullied were unable to withdraw. They remained within 40 yards of the enemy position, unobserved, throughout the next day. They retreated the next night. The Hasty P's suffered fairly heavy casualties, although the enemy casualties were greater."
Leonard was transported by No 5 Field Ambulance to No 4 Casualty Clearing Station which was then located in Leonforte. Here Leonard succumbed of his wounds the same day and was buried in a field grave near Leonforte. He was later reburied at Agira Canadian War Cemetery.
Leonard lived in West Saint John, New Brunswick with his parents and two younger brothers. He served in the active militia from May 1938 until his official enlisting on 3 September 1939. He served with the Saint John Fusiliers and was later transferred to the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa. He only joined the Hasty P's just before they embarked for Sicily.
Find Grave, 2024-10-26
Information courtesy of the 