The Battle for Monastèro di Incontro - Phase Two

Although one machine-gun post had been destroyed, for the infantry any attempt to reach the monastery, without tank support, would have been suicidal. A message to this effect from Lt Col Musson was relayed to Major Mackean from whom, some while later, came the word that he was about to go on a recce and that Captain Sidebottom was to take command of the Squadron.

The following is my recollection of what the OC told us when the crew of Ballyrashane was reunited a few days later:

He had ordered 4 Troop Leader, Lt KW Foott, whose tanks were nearest to the wadi, to see if there was any feasible way to effect a crossing. When the Lieutenant reported that he had found a possible route, the two of them, despite being fully exposed to enemy fire, went to assess whether the Churchills could first make it down and then up the other side. Despite the fact they were looking down a "damnedly deep gorge" (as the Major described it) Lt. Foott believed he could manage it, so he was given the go ahead.

The wireless traffic went quiet as Lt. Foott led his Troop down the precipitous slope and, when he reported that his Troop had reached the monastery, the airwaves were filled with congratulations coming from all quarters. With the arrival of 2 Troop following the same route, despite some shellfire, the support was sufficient for the DCLI to quickly secure the monastery and its immediate surroundings. As the day came to a close, the massif was secured but for one peak which was taken, the following morning, without any resistance being encountered.

Afterthoughts

In little over two weeks, the Regiment had supported the infantry of the 28th British Infantry Brigade in the capture of numerous villages perched on their hilltops. With the Incontro massif free of the enemy, the ancient city of Florence had been saved from needless destruction. Once again the Churchill tanks had proved themselves to truly be "mountain goats" climbing to places where the Shermans (who throughout gave excellent HE support) could not.

It is this writer's opinion that the capture of Monastèro di Incontro, as was the final assault on Longstop Hill was one of the Regiment's great military achievements of the war. No doubt some bias does arise as, in both instances, it was 'B' Squadron's 4 Troop that achieved the almost impossible. By stating this, it is not the intention to take away anything from the great victory, of some ten weeks earlier, when the Hitler Line was broken.

Additional to the skilled handling of tanks displayed at both Longstop and Incontro there are some other remarkable similarities. First, the German Army did not believe that tanks could possibly reach their defences, consequently anti-tank weapons were minimal at best - the defenders of the monastery only having Panzerfausts. Second, none of the Regiment was killed as a result of enemy action. Finally, in both battles, the attached Royal Artillery FOO became a casualty.

Justifiably, the DCLI are proud of what was achieved on that August day, as evidenced by the following extract from "The History of the Duke of Cornwall's Light, 1939-1945."

"It is not often in a major war that a battalion can claim a battle honour to which it alone is entitled, but the Second's attack and capture of the Incontro Monastery near Florence is one example."

Sergeant Wallace Bray of the DCLI was awarded the MM for his part in the attack on the monastery.