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ITALY - PHASE ONE

APRIL 1944 - MAY, 1945.

From the end of the Tunisian Campaign until late March, 1944 the North Irish Horse remained in North Africa and were located 25 miles west of Bone on the main Phillipville Road. All types of training were carried out during this period and in October, 1943, the Regiment had been warned that they would be required to take part in an operation. Everything was prepared but un­fortunately the project fell through.

Early in January, 1944, Lieut. Colonel D. Dawnay, D.S.O., was posted as Second-in-Command of 23rd Armoured Brigade. Thus was ended his period of command of the Regiment from November, 1941, during which he had trained the Regiment in England, commanded it in North Africa and won the respect and thanks of all ranks. His departure was a great loss to the Regiment. Lady Katherine Dawnay most kindly agreed to continue as the con­troller of the N.I.H. Next-of-Kin Scheme.

Major The Lord O'Neill, who had been Second-in-Command, was promoted to the rank of Lieut. Colonel and assumed command of the Regiment as successor to Colonel Dawnay. On March 26th orders were received for the Regiment to be prepared for embarkation to Italy. At this time fighting Squadrons were organised on the basis of five Churchill Troops. It was now made known that on arrival in Italy two Churchill Troops per Squadron would be changed into Sherman Troops.

The advance party left on 9th April 9th and the main body on 16th April; half the Regiment embarked at Bone and half at Algiers. By the end of April all the tanks had been disembarked and by 5th May the Regiment was fully concentrated at Lucera, near Foggia airfield. The Regiment carried out exercises with the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade from 5th May until 12th May. Orders were received for the Regiment to concentrate at Mignano, and by 11th May this was completed

On the night 12th-13th May nothing eventful occurred but all ranks were kept awake by the artillery firing tasks throughout the night from positions in and around rigade Headquarters. Learn­ing from the experience of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade, all ranks dug slit trenches automatically from this day onwards. During the night Major R. Johnston, Royal Devon Yeomanry, joined the Regiment, and his two forward observation Sherman tanks were retained at Regimental Headquarters. This Regiment was the self-propelled (105 mm. Priests) Regiment in support of the 25th Army Tank Brigade.

At 0700 hours, 19th May, the Regiment moved, with the entire 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade group, to a new area approxi­mately four miles south east of Pontecorvo. It was reported that the French had started an assault on Monte Leuca, west of the town, but that all their attempts to cross the Liri river in an effort to get behind Pontecorvo and so turn the Hitler Line, had met with no success.

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