Page Forty-four

3. During the day 20 October ‘A’ and ‘C’ Squadrons moved up to 600067 on the outskirts of Cesena, being required to cross the river at first light on 21 October to support the infantry who were crossing during the night. At 0210 hours on 21 October the Regimental Liaison Officer at Headquarters, the 12th Infantry Brigade, reported that difficulties were being experienced by the sappers preparing the river crossings and that a possibility existed that the tanks would have to make their own way across the river. Orders were immediately issued for an officer and a reconnaissance party from ‘A’ and ‘C’ Squadron to go forward to the crossing sites and prepare for tanks to cross. The party left at 0230 hours and at 0515 hours orders were issued for the tanks to go forward to cross the river and link up with their infantry. At 0545 hours ‘A’ Squadron were directed to make an Ark crossing over the river, before mine clearing had been completed, as it was essential that the tanks cross the river to the assistance of the infantry who had been crossing since midnight but were meeting considerable opposition, particularly on the right opposite the 6th Black Watch.

4.. The tanks of the 142nd. Regiment Royal Armoured Corps had moved forward slightly to wait until visibility improved before attempting the crossing. Three Arks had been placed in the river, by the side of a German Panther tank which had. apparently become bogged when trying to cross, and when visibility improved the tanks crossed over, the actual place being at 587060. At 0630 hours a Tiger was seen on the west bank but could not be engaged by the tanks and eventually retired. By 0800 hours six tanks of ‘C’ Squadron and one tank of ‘A’ Squadron had crossed over the causeway of Arks, but a delay was caused in passing further tanks over as one of the Arks commenced to list and it was necessary to remove the ramps and place a fascine in the gap before crossing was resumed again at 1000 hours.

5. After crossing the river, one Troop of ‘C’ Squadron was switched to the left in order to give the 1st Royal West Kents some armoured support as a Tiger tank had been reported in the area 578065. The Presence of heavy tanks across the river was invaluable to the infantry, especially as the area of the bridgehead and crossing was being subject to heavy bombardment by the enemy with artillery, mortars, nebelwerfers and also, it was reported, some panzerwerfers which had previously been reported in the Cesena area. However, in spite of these difficulties at the river ‘A’ Squadron managed. to cross complete by 1215 hours, and married up with the 1st Royal West Kents, the Troop of ‘C’ Squadron then rejoining the 6th Black Watch. The enemy were putting up stiff opposition, with tank’s support, to the efforts of our troops to enlarge the bridgehead, and the tanks of the 142nd Regiment Royal Armoured Corps added valuable fire support in the close fighting which developed in the limited area of the bridgehead.

6. Meanwhile ‘C’ Squadron of the 142nd. Regiment Royal Armoured Corps was held up by damage to the Arks by shellfire, and it was not until 1610 hours that they were across the river complete and in support of the 6th Black Watch. The constant shelling and the failure to erect the Bailey bridge, coupled with the fact that heavy rain was falling and that the river was likely to rise if it continued, aroused misgivings concerning the supply situation, and accordingly at 1415 hours two Stuart tanks left Regimental Headquarters of the 142nd. Regiment Royal Armoured Corps to prepared to ferry supplies across the river to the tanks beyond, and at 1620 hours four Churchills of ‘B’ Squadron were ordered forward for the same purpose.

7. It had not been an easy day for the troops in the bridgehead as house to house fighting became the order of the day in some sectors while repeated counter-attacks had to be fought off, and. the guns of the tanks were constantly in action. Enemy tanks were reported at various times during the day, but it was more of a game of hide-and-seek than of a straight tank versus tank battle. The shelling and mortaring continued throughout the day, but in spite of the opposition the infantry of the 12th Infantry Brigade continued to slowly expand. the bridgehead. On the right the 6th Black Watch supported by ‘C’ Squadron had advanced along Route 9 towards the road junction at 582074 where enemy tanks offered opposition. After heavy fighting, the enemy withdrew and the 6th Black Watch protected by the guns and armour of ‘C’ Squadron were able to occupy company positions forward of the road junction and in the area of the Stadium at 586076 - 581073. In the centre, the 2nd Royal Fusiliers who were without armour support until ‘B’ Squadron of the 142nd Regiment Royal Armoured Corps could cross the river occupied positions at 587066, 584060 and 582062. On the left of the bridgehead ‘A’ Squadron after crossing the river had tied up with the 1st Royal West Kents and supported them in their advance to their Immediate objective at 587965 where tanks were also encountered before it was finally cleared.

Turn to next page of the Appendix
or return to the
Index