By nightfall on 6 December, the Canadian division was across the Moro in two places. The only practicable site was the demolished bridge on the road to San Leonardo. The afternoon of 8 December the First Brigade launched a two-prong assault on San Leonardo with the RCR right hooking out of the Hasty Ps bridgehead while the 48th Highlanders of Canada would cross the Moro and attack La Torre midway between Villa Rogatti and San Leonardo. Attacking southwestwards along a long winding lane soon to be dubbed "Royal Canadian Avenue" the RCR would attack across the front of the 361st Panzer Grenadier Regiment. The Germans retreated and San Leonardo was at last secured, but counter-attack were the order of the day and on Thursday 9 December the German counter-attacked. “A” Company was about to depart when the action started and only one of its platoons, Lieutenant Mitch Sterlin’s was in position to face the attacking Germans. From a two-story house destined to go down in regimental annals as “Sterlin Castle”, the RCRs made their stand.
Attacker: German (361st Panzer Grenadier Regiment)
Defender: Canadian (16 Platoon, A Company, Royal Canadian Regiment)
I chose to shoot rather than move a squad and leader adjacent to a fanatic 458 and a 9-1, in order to engage them in close combat; denying the Canadian Good Order status. Good game but we forget about the consequences of rain which likely would have slowed down the German assault a lot.
