Despite the still falling rain, we were all in good spirits as the Squadron moved northward with the goal to reach Monte Palareto, there to move the short distance on to the Fratta/Meldola road, becoming increasingly likely. Although the track was so narrow, requiring the utmost care to avoid hitting the high flanking stone walls with the tanks' louvres, all went well until the lead tank was stopped by a stream, in full flood, on its way down to join the river Ronco. There was no way across, the bridge was too narrow for the tanks to use! The Squadron could go no further and, with 'C' Squadron bogged down near Polenta, the Regiment's role was nearing its end. After a day or so of fruitless reconnaisance work, with the continuing heavy rain steadily worsening the already difficult supply position for the infantry and tanks, the operation came to an end. The two bridges that were ever so close were now much too far! The Long Road Back On Sunday, 29th October, the Squadron received orders to proceed, with utmost despatch, to the Cesena area for the purpose of performing much needed maintenance on the tanks. As the distance, even with the necessity of first back-tracking to Borello before proceeding north, was only about thirty miles, we all anticipated harbouring before nightfall or, at the worst, sometime the next day. Our optimistic outlook was soon proven to be ill-founded - five more days would elapse before the last of the Squadron's tanks reached Cesena. The difficulties that HQF and 2 Troop had experienced, three weeks earlier, while en route to Monte Farneto, were but thin slices of cake when compared to those the Squadron had to overcome, just to reach the Meldola/Borello road. I first heard of "Murphy's Law" during a visit to the United States in the 1950s. This so-called law, named after a fictitious mechanic, a real bumbler serving in the US Navy, is based on the assumption "That if something can go wrong, it will." Our Squadron's mishaps, during the course of the next few days, inadvertently confirmed the "Law's" basic premise! The many attempts to guide the rear-most Churchill backwards were soon abandoned as being too difficult to perform while the rain was falling so heavily. When the rain later eased up another attempt was made, but this too failed when the tank swung its rear end into one of the walls, reinforcing the fact that somehow turning the tanks around was a must. The next effort was to demolish a length of the walls and to use the stone to form a bed to prevent a tank sinking in the boggy ground. Despite the exertions of a large crew wielding sledgehammers and crowbars (they were carried on the Churchill's rear deck) the walls proved to be so strongly built that it was slow work. After an hour or so, as darkness was approaching, it was decided to call it a day. Usually it was my task to call the echelon with a list of needed supplies, however, as the Squadron was desperately short of petrol and food (nothing had been delivered the previous day) on this occasion Captain Finch-Noyes opted to do so himself. I do not recall to whom he spoke, but whoever it was he certainly received an earful! Thereafter, with expectations of better things on the morrow we settled down for the night - fortunately the rain had stopped completely. Next morning, under relatively clear skies, work resumed on the wall. This time, with the help of some well directed blows delivered by the Churchill, enough of the wall was soon demolished to enable the tank, minus its right front track cover, to make the 180º turn. After five or more other tanks, including Ballyrashane, had backed up to successfully do the same, everyone thought our troubles were over. It was not to be - the edicts of "Murphy's Law" were still very much in place. Turn to next page or return to the Narrative Index
With the NIH in Italy - The Long March North

Page Fifty-nine

Despite the still falling rain, we were all in good spirits as the Squadron moved northward with the goal to reach Monte Palareto, there to move the short distance on to the Fratta/Meldola road, becoming increasingly likely. Although the track was so narrow, requiring the utmost care to avoid hitting the high flanking stone walls with the tanks' louvres, all went well until the lead tank was stopped by a stream, in full flood, on its way down to join the river Ronco. There was no way across, the bridge was too narrow for the tanks to use! The Squadron could go no further and, with 'C' Squadron bogged down near Polenta, the Regiment's role was nearing its end.

After a day or so of fruitless reconnaisance work, with the continuing heavy rain steadily worsening the already difficult supply position for the infantry and tanks, the operation came to an end. The two bridges that were ever so close were now much too far!

The Long Road Back

On Sunday, 29th October, the Squadron received orders to proceed, with utmost despatch, to the Cesena area for the purpose of performing much needed maintenance on the tanks. As the distance, even with the necessity of first back-tracking to Borello before proceeding north, was only about thirty miles, we all anticipated harbouring before nightfall or, at the worst, sometime the next day. Our optimistic outlook was soon proven to be ill-founded - five more days would elapse before the last of the Squadron's tanks reached Cesena.

The difficulties that HQF and 2 Troop had experienced, three weeks earlier, while en route to Monte Farneto, were but thin slices of cake when compared to those the Squadron had to overcome, just to reach the Meldola/Borello road.

I first heard of "Murphy's Law" during a visit to the United States in the 1950s. This so-called law, named after a fictitious mechanic, a real bumbler serving in the US Navy, is based on the assumption "That if something can go wrong, it will." Our Squadron's mishaps, during the course of the next few days, inadvertently confirmed the "Law's" basic premise!

The many attempts to guide the rear-most Churchill backwards were soon abandoned as being too difficult to perform while the rain was falling so heavily. When the rain later eased up another attempt was made, but this too failed when the tank swung its rear end into one of the walls, reinforcing the fact that somehow turning the tanks around was a must.

The next effort was to demolish a length of the walls and to use the stone to form a bed to prevent a tank sinking in the boggy ground. Despite the exertions of a large crew wielding sledgehammers and crowbars (they were carried on the Churchill's rear deck) the walls proved to be so strongly built that it was slow work. After an hour or so, as darkness was approaching, it was decided to call it a day.

Usually it was my task to call the echelon with a list of needed supplies, however, as the Squadron was desperately short of petrol and food (nothing had been delivered the previous day) on this occasion Captain Finch-Noyes opted to do so himself. I do not recall to whom he spoke, but whoever it was he certainly received an earful! Thereafter, with expectations of better things on the morrow we settled down for the night - fortunately the rain had stopped completely.

Next morning under relatively clear skies, work resumed on the wall. This time, with the help of some well directed blows delivered by the Churchill, enough of the wall was soon demolished to enable the tank, minus its right front track cover, to make the 180º turn. After five or more other tanks, including Ballyrashane, had backed up to successfully do the same, everyone thought our troubles were over. It was not to be - the edicts of "Murphy's Law" were still very much in place.

Turn to next page
or return to the
Narrative Index