247424 Gdm. Robert Laird British Army 2nd Btn. Coldstream Guards from:Edinburgh During the battle of the Argenta Gap in April 1945, my Uncle Robert Laird's Platoon Commander, Peter Whaley was killed in action. My Uncle was shot in the same action. They were ordered to attack and capture a strong enemy position which was holding up the advance and had already beaten off two previous attacks. They made a reconnaissance under heavy shelling and small arms fire, Major Toler, repositioned the company, and tanks, under his command and led an assault. In a decisive victory over the dug-in Germans 80 prisoners were taken. Major Toler was awarded the MC.
My Uncle was treated and returned to his unit, and his war service ended in 1946 as the battalion was rushed up to Trieste after the war ended where they confronted Tito's forces who were trying a land grab.
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