432925 Private Owen Leslie Gardner, (1922-16/12/1943). "a promising cyclist"

Advice has been received by Mr and Mrs L. Gardner, of Portobello, from the Minister of Defence, Mr F. Jones, that their son, Private Owen Leslie Gardner, has been killed in action in the fighting overseas. Private Gardner, who was in his twenty-second year, was a promising cyclist prior to commencing his military training, and had several successes in road racing.    -Otago Daily Times, 31/12/1943.

Owen Gardner served with the 26th Battalion and its Official History has theis to say about the day he died:

Six days later, on the morning of the 15th, the assault on Cemetery Ridge was resumed by 25 Battalion and 5 Brigade, with armoured support. All objectives were taken after prolonged fighting, but exploitation by tanks and infantry was prevented by stubborn defence and enemy counter-attacks. The troops encountered were of a different calibre from those who offered a token resistance earlier in the campaign. Anti-tank guns, cleverly sited, took a heavy toll of the Shermans. Nevertheless the gains were held and one of the enemy's main supply routes, the Orsogna-Ortona road, was blocked.

The attack and enemy counter-attacks extended into the 16th but by nightfall the battle had quietened down. 

Portobello Cemetery. DCC photo.