Page Thirty-seven

29. No 2 Troop of ‘B’ Squadron made a gallant attempt to reach Ardiano in order to marry up with the infantry, advancing along the bed of the Rubicone, a small river running across the line of advance, the attempt, however, proved unsuccessful, as two of the tanks became bogged at
R 601978. They were able to get out but no further attempt was made to advance up this route, and tank going on any other was also impossible. No 4 Troop of the Squadron had moved to Monteleone with the intention of following No 2 Troop if the attempt had proved successful, but in view of the fate of the first tanks, remained in harbour. In the meantime 2nd/6th Gurkha Rifles had cleared yet another of the features dominating the road to the Savio, this time M. Chicco
(R 5798) lying to the south-west of Monte delle Vaccho.

30. On 16 October ‘A’ Squadron continued its struggle against the conditions, and by 1300 hours, No 2 and No 3 Troops, now reduced by mechanical failure to a total of three tanks, reached Diolaguardia. During the day extensive foot reconnaissances were carried out by the Commanding Officer, Second-in-Command and Squadron Leaders of the Regiment, together with the Officer Commanding 383 Battery of the 142nd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, with a view to finding suitable tracks to move the tanks forward, avoiding roads on which movement by the tanks would be disastrous to the surface,

31. The Divisional Commander now decided to relieve 10th Indian Infantry Brigade, leaving the forward battalion, 4th/10th Baluchs under command of the relieving Brigade. It was then planned to attack with two battalions, 4th/10th Baluchs directed upon Montereale and 3rd/1st Punjabs on Acquarole (N 5802), the attack to be supported by ‘A’ Squadron of NIH.

32. In early morning of 17 October the composite Troop formed by the remaining tanks of No 2 and No 3 Troops, moved forward towards Montereale to marry up with the 4th/10th Baluchs who had taken the feature by first light, but were hold up at N 579009, by one of the innumberable blows carried out by the retreating enemy. This march forward had been a nightmare journey in the darkness over roads which were barely ‘Jeepable’. During the day while remaining in this position the tanks were consistently shelled fortunately without casualties. The infantry patrolled forward to the River Savio and reported that the tracks were badly cratered, The country between Montereale and the river was stated to be impassable to tanks because of the deep ravines, in some cases with sheer perpendicular sides while the river banks were also reported to be steep.

35. 3rd/1st Punjabs had also attacked during the night 16/17 October but by first light were still three hundred yards short of their objective, and sustained enemy fire prevented any further advance, although they were able to go forward during night 17/18 to the village although the enemy continued to hold the high ground round the road junction H 581031.

34. No 4. Troop of ‘A’ Squadron had still continued to plod on with the recce unit, and during the night 17/18 crossed the River Savio in the area of Cello (H 5591), and by first light were on Route 71 at R 556924., Throughout the following day the bridge crossing at R 559929 was under heavy enemy fire.

35. Operations during the day 18 Oct were confined to reconnaissance by the Commanding Officer and Second-in-Command, of the area Mercato (R 5667) and route forward to it by which it was hoped to move the tanks, as it was impossible to get them directly across the Savio downstream. The weather was again fine and the tracks drying.

36. On 19 Oct the only tanks to move were those of the composite Troop of ‘A’ Squadron which again joined 3rd/1st Punjabs who, having established themselves in Acquarole, had carried on to Pt 157 (H 5803) and by securing it had fulfilled the task of the Division in securing the left flank of 46 Division during the attack of the latter on the town of Cesena.

37. 10 Indian Division was now established on the high ground overlooking the River Savio, with 46 Division on the right being relieved by 4 British Division in the area of Cesena, before the latter attacked across the river. 20 Indian Infantry Brigade was concentrating across the river in the area of Cella, while patrols of 10 Indian Infantry Brigade were across in the area San Carlo (M 5501) - Castiglione (H 5501) on Route 71. On night 20/21 ‘A’ Squadron reconnoitred crossings ever the Savio in the area of Castiglione with a view to supporting 25 Indian Infantry Brigade across the river in conjunction with the impending attack of 4 British Division on the right. The actual attack and crossing of the river are dealt with in the succeeding chapter.

Conclusion

38. The struggle of North Irish Horse during the period reviewed, had been mainly against the elements, although they did on occasion give valuable assistance to the infantry in firing against selected targets, and no doubt added to the morale effect by their presence in country which was anything but good tank country. It was a heartless task for the tanks crews to keep their 40-ton monsters going over and on narrow roads, over soft and boggy country and across streams and rivers, in bad weather, which more than often required hard work with pick and shovel. Despite these difficulties the tanks had gone at every opportunity from crossing the Fiumicino until the Savio was reached and had played a decisive part in enabling M. Farneto to be established as a base for our own troops.

39. During this period, credit must also go to the various branches of the Brigade Services which supported the Regiment and also to 383 Bty of 142 Field Regt RA, which was on call to the Regiment to give field artillery support whenever required against troublesome targets, and who also had their problems of moving up their self-propelled guns over the difficult country,

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