It was now the first week of November with the Regiment harboured in and around Cesena, a pleasant town perched on its hill overlooking the river Savio. It showed few signs of the Herculean, but unsuccessful, attempts to deny the German Army access to it by cutting Via Emilia. Although it had only been liberated since Friday, 20th October, it was returning to normal as much of the civilian population had returned. All the tanks were in such a bad shape, particularly ours and those of 'C' Squadron, as they had had little significant maintenance for nearly three months. With most of the tanks in the workshops and a leave programme in place, everyone thought that the Regiment was in for a well-earned break of a week or two. It was not to be. The euphoria we were experiencing soon evaporated a few days later, when orders came down from Brigade to prepare for immediate action. In a couple of days, the small force that was somehow scratched together, took off to assist in the clearing of German forces out of Forli, leaving the remainder of the Regiment behind.

After the Liberation of Forli, as aerial reconnaissance had shown heavy artillery in place on the far bank of the river Montone plus a very large calibre railway-gun in Faenza, it was decided to switch the line of attack to the northeast. Consequently, as further tanks were released from the workshops, they were sent in units of two or three to assist the infantry (at times entire regiments) in the capturing of the many small towns and villages in the fertile triangle of land having the town of Ravenna at the apex with the highway between Cesena and Faenza forming the base.

During the time we were in Cesena, waiting for our tanks to be released, the weather grew increasingly colder, so everyone set to providing fuel for the older civilians to burn in their stoves. With tools scrounged from many sources - the Canadians being particularly helpful - parties set about felling trees then sawing them into logs to be split into a useable size. Having acquired a superbly balanced Canadian axe, I spent hours on the log-splitting process. Although we were supposed to return the tools, I must confess that "my" axe was "requisitioned" to become part of Ballyrashane's inventory.

About a week later the Squadron, even though it was still only up to fifty percent strength, received orders to move with its echelon into Forli. On arrival, the tanks were parked on a small square in the town's industrial area, on the east side of which was located the offices and manufacturing facilities of Brecchi stoves. While we were settling down for the night in the offices, the Squadron's cookhouse crew was taking up residence in a small garage, located on the north-east corner of the square. As we had been warned to expect the town to be periodically shelled by a railway-mounted gun, Corporal Stevenson elected to bed down in the garage's inspection pit.

Some time in the middle of the night we were awakened by the sound of a loud explosion - an incoming shell had penetrated the roof of the garage to detonate in the inspection pit. Amazingly, none of the cookhouse personnel was injured and little damage was done except to Corporal Stevenson's bedding - but for a call of nature, he would have been killed while asleep in the pit!

A few days later, about 02.00 hrs, RQMS Docksey appeared (I happened to be Guard Commander) with instructions to rouse all personnel to prepare for a move. NCOs were to proceed to a meeting at RHQ which was located in a nearby building. Once assembled, a Major (I believe it was 'A' Squadron's OC but I am not certain) from lessons recently learned, instructed us how best to support infantry in the unusual circumstances of house-to-house fighting in the countryside.

It was Sunday, 26th November, the Squadron had its eight available tanks ready to go - Ballyrashane and Bangor of HQF Troop, with 2 and 5 Troops commanded by Lieutenants Fleming and Mahon respectively.

To better follow the tracks of 'B' Squadron, please see Map of the River Montone Area. During this period, the Squadron's tanks supported, in chronological order, the Durham Light Infantry, Gurkha and Baluch Regiments of 10th Indian Division and Le Royal 22e Regiment of 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade.