Operations in support of British 4th Division under command 1 Canadian Corps

12. The regrouping of 1 Canadian Corps completed the outline plan for the resumption of the attack and was an attack with two divisions up; right the 1st Canadian Division with under command 21st Tank Brigade and left the 4th British Infantry Division with under command 25th Tank Brigade, less the 142nd Regiment Royal Armoured Corps.
Preliminary to the main attack the 5th Canadian Armoured Division was to attack and capture the Coriano ridge, on the completion of which the 4th British Infantry Division would pass through. Within the wider Corps plan, the 4th British Infantry Division planned to attack with one brigade up, namely the 12th Infantry Brigade supported by the 51st Royal Tanks. The 12th Infantry Brigade was to capture Point 106 (861879) and Point 113 (861884) with right the 6th Black Watch and ‘C’ Squadron the 51st Royal Tanks and left 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers with ‘A’ Squadron of the 5lst Royal Tanks.

13. Upon completion of this first phase by the 12th Infantry Brigade, 28th Infantry Brigade with the support of North Irish Horse would pass through and, maintain the advance. (1)

The Advance to the River Ausa

14. On 12 September in preparation for the impending operations Main Brigade Headquarters moved to La Tambaccia (946843) where everything was dug-in in anticipation of a lively time, as the Brigade was located in the centre of our own gun lines and the enemy’s artillery activity was becoming heavier and more widespread.

15. On 13 September the 5th Canadian Armoured. Division achieved their objective in capturing the Coriano ridge and ‘A’ and ‘C’ Squadrons of the 51st Royal Tanks moved to a forward assembly area on the reverse slopes where they married up with their respective infantry during the night. The tanks were joined in the forward assembly area by one troop of Arks and Shermandozers from the 1st Assault Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps Regiment/Royal Engineers. Reconnaissances were carried out during the night with patrols of tank and Royal Engineer representatives to prepare crossings of the River Fornaci so that the tanks could cross quickly to the support of the infantry once the attack had commenced. Opposition was encountered by the reconnaissance parties, however, only the left hand party being able to get to the river, the right hand one being held up by German infantry who were still on the east bank.

16. At 0630 hours on 14 September the infantry crossed the start line, each battalion advancing two companies up, each company being supported by a troop of tanks, the remaining two troops of each squadron providing fire support for the advancing forces with their 75mm guns. An Ark had been placed in the Rio della Fornaci on the road running north and south of the Coriano ridge to enable the tanks to proceed with the infantry. On the right the 6th Black Watch with 'C' Squadron found a crossing of the river and enemy tanks and self-propelled guns were encountered and engaged. In the fighting which followed two tanks of ‘C’ Squadron were knocked out but not before they had inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. The two supporting troops were then ordered forward through the assaulting troops on to the final objective and in the fighting preceding the capture of the objective two more tanks were knocked out. On the left the attack of ‘A’ Squadron with the Royal Fusiliers went rather better as the tanks were able to cross over the Ark crossing already in position.
Co-operation between tanks and infantry was not so good on this occasion and the advance was consequently slowed down so that it was not until 1700 hours that the objectives had been secured. The enemy had offered fierce opposition with tanks including Tigers, self-propelled guns and anti-tank guns, and 51st Royal Tanks had lost eight tanks knocked out. ‘B’ Squadron 51st Royal Tanks was therefore ordered up to relieve ‘A’ and ‘C’ Squadrons on the objectives and remain there throughout the night with the infantry, while ‘A’ and ‘C’ Squadrons withdrew approximately four hundred yards for the night.

17. The first phase successfully accomplished, phase two commenced against the Bagli feature (8389) which lay on the west side of the River Marano. During the night 12/15 September, the 1st Royal West Kents formed a bridgehead over the Marano in the area of Ospedelatto (589) through which it was planned to pass the 28th Infantry Brigade with the North Irish Horse. At 0100 hours on 15 September ‘A’ Squadron of the North Irish Horse, followed by ‘C’ Squadron, moved forward and by 0630 hours ‘A’ Squadron was across complete with the 2nd King’s; ‘C’ Squadron quickly followed in support of the 2nd/4th Hampshires and were on their objective by 0700 hours, but ‘A’ Squadron and the 2nd King’s were unable to consolidate on their objective until midday. Throughout the day any movement immediately brought down heavy enemy fire and at last light ‘B‘ Squadron of the North Irish Horse sent two troops forward to remain with the infantry and relieving ‘A’ Squadron, while ‘C’ Squadron also had two troops forward with the infantry in a counter-attack role.

18. The plan for securing the high ground overlooking the River Ausa (Bagli feature) was actually put in by the 2nd Somersets. They succeeded in getting on to Point 137 (8289) but were counter-attacked and driven off, although they later succeeded in holding Point 126 (8209) an adjoining height. During the 15th ‘B’ Squadron remained in a counter-attack role with the infantry but at 2200 hours moved to Patrignano (841890) in preparation for an attack against Cerasola (819890) from which the enemy was offering fierce resistance and holding up the advance on the divisional front. It was then decided that the 28th Infantry Brigade with the North Irish Horse would, on the 16th, clear and secure the high ground which had up to that time eluded our troops. With this high ground secure the 10th Infantry Brigade with tho 5lst Royal Tanks would pass through and cross the Ausa. The detailed plan was for ‘B’ squadron of the North Irish Horse to support an attack by the 2nd King’s on Point 137 while ‘C’ Squadron supported 2nd/4th Hampshires against Cerasola.

(1) Map 5: The Coriano Area (Not available)

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