King, Bernard Michael

Pte. Bernard Michael King, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael King, 39 Spring St., lost his life on December 9, 1943, in the main attack for the San Leonardo bridgehead on the north side of the Moro River, Italy. That day the enemy attacked Pte. King's unit, the Royal Canadian Regiment, with tanks, self-propelled guns and heavy artillery fire, and for twenty-four hours the combat raged. Many of the Canadians lost their lives and by their sacrifice helped their comrades to capture the objective and move up the winding road nearer to Ortona. The young Brantford soldier was buried in a beautiful country lane not far from the village of San Leonardo. Born in Brantford, February 20, 1923, Bernard attended St. Basil's School and the Collegiate Institute. He was a member of St. Basil's Church and was interested in many of the parish activities. He was also a member of the

Knights of Columbus. Interested in hockey, Pte. King played for the C.Y.O. and later for the Cockshutt team in the Inter-factory League. He also had a hobby in racing pigeons. He had begun to learn the trade of coremaking. Enlisting with the 2/10 Dragoons on June 17, 1942, he trained at Hamilton, Niagara-on-the-Lake and at Debert, and at the end of six months sailed overseas. On July 10, 1943, he took part in the invasion of Sicily with the Royal Regiment of Canada, to which he transferred while in England.

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