Leaving Riccione behind, after an uneventful trip, we  eventually arrived at RHQ's location, from which the  returning personnel were transported to their  respective Squadrons. On reaching my Squadron I  found it to be positioned in the immediate vicinity of  Monteleone, a village clustered around a small  medieval castle perched on top of a hill. HQF Troop had made itself at home in a building to the rear of the castle, containing several wooden bunks, probably designed to house casual workers during the grape harvest. I was pleased to find that a bunk had been reserved for me.

At an elevation of over nine-hundred feet, the view from the castle of the surrounding countryside was spectacular. We could see Sogliano al Rubicone and, to the northwest about three kilometres distant, Roncofreddo the sodden approaches to which had presented so much difficulty for the Regiment's tanks. Periodically, the sound of gunfire could be heard far enough away, however, not to be of concern to the Squadron which recently had been the target of so much shelling.

The River Savio and Beyond

During the early hours of Saturday, 21st October, meeting no enemy resistance, 'C' Squadron made it safely across the fast-flowing river a short distance upstream from the confluence with the Borello, a major tributary. Later the same day, not without overcoming many difficulties, the Squadron also crossed the Borello to take possession of the town with the same name.

Concurrently, much further downstream, in the face of fierce enemy resistance, the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada also made it successfully across. It is of note that Private (later Sergeant) Ernest Alvia Smith was awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroic efforts in the subsequent defence of the bridgehead.

Over the next couple of days, the remainder of the Regiment proceeded to cross the Savio/Borello rivers, taking up positions ready for the next phase of the battle, a two-pronged advance on Forli - the Canadians from the east, the 4th Indian Division from the south.

The task facing the Regiment was a daunting one indeed, how best to support the infantry (over already difficult tank terrain considerably worsened by the heavy rains) as they made the twelve kilometre advance to the river Ronco which had to be crossed before swinging north towards Forli.

Soon after the Squadron was assembled on the outskirts of Borello, we gathered before Major Sidebottom who commenced by saying he was going to put us "in the picture." Hearing these familiar words, for me, memories of his predecessor's death on Monte Farneto were almost overwhelming in their intensity. The Regiment's first objective was the capture of twin bridges, over the Ronco at Meldola. As 'C' Squadron's task was to capture the northern bridge, going the longer way via the village of Fratta, it was already on the way. For its part, 'B' Squadron would move out early next day, taking the direct route on the Monte Cavallo road, its objective being the seizure of the southern bridge, There was a collective sigh of relief when the Major concluded his briefing by saying that air reconnaissance had found no signs of German anti-tank weaponry east of the Ronco.

To better follow the fortunes of 'B' Squadron over the next few days, see a map of the Savio/Ronco area.