Page 16
The 1st Canadian Infantry Division with supporting arms was held up on the enemy outposts of the Hitler Line and some two thousand yards from the road Pontecorvo-Aquino; the 3rd Brigade was on the right; 1st Brigade on the left and 2nd Brigade with N.I.H. in reserve. 2nd Brigade group had not been committed in any form and was completely fresh, and was to be kept in that state for the assault on the enemy line. 13th Corps on the right of the Forme d'Aquino had not had much success against Aquino itself and according to the poor lateral information it was thought at that time that the right flank of the 1st Canadian Division was exposed. Monte Cairo, east of Highway 6, was still in enemy hands so that all activities of Canadian Corps were open to view by the enemy. In the Liri valley, behind Canadian Corps, was situated all the 13th Corps and Canadian Corps artillery, augmented by an Army Group R.A. It was clear that the main defences of the Adolf Hitler Line were based on the road running east to west between Aquino and Pontecorvo. This road was some five miles in length and all approaches to it were difficult, the country being densely wooded, with occasional clearings. Existing tracks were very poor and one-way only. At this time all intelligence reports indicated that the line was not fully manned by the enemy.
In the evening the Commanding Officer explained the situation to Squadron Leaders but was unable to give out any orders. Major P. Welch, M.C., acting as second-in-command, arrived at approximately 1700 hours with Major A. W. A. Llewellen-Palmer, D.S.O., M.C., who had been appointed second-in-command, but the Commanding Officer ordered Major Welch to continue as second-in-command for the battle.
On the 22nd May it was reported that fifty enemy tanks had been seen arriving near Pontecorvo from the west. They were engaged by artillery and the "Cab Rank" (fighter aircraft) and rive were claimed as knocked out. The remainder dispersed.
At 2100 hours the Regiment started the move to the forward assembly area which was some 600 yards short of the start line.
Major R. J. Griffith, M.C., who had previously done a reconnaissance of the forward assembly area and start line, led the Regiment with A Squadron; B and C Squadrons followed, then Regimental Headquarters, and the Regimental Aid Post vehicles and, despite some mortaring and "nebelling" the Regiment collected in the forward assembly area by 2330 hours without casualties. Major T. J. Griffith M.C., who had previously done a reconnaissance of the forward assembly area and start line, led with A Squadron, B and C Squadrons followed, then Regimental Headquarters and the Regimental Aid post vehicles casualties.
The Regimental aid post was to be amalgamated with the Infantry Regimental aid post by "H” hour and light scale echelon supplies were to be brought up under Major Welch's arrangements to the forward assembly area. Between 2330 hours, 22nd May, and 0400 hours, 23rd May, A, B, and C Squadrons linked up with their infantry and the normal Regimental link was included with the Tactical Headquarters, 2nd Canadian Brigade, which was situated approximately one thousand yards south east of the start line. Air photographs of the line were issued down to reconnaissance captains.
The 23rd May, 1944, was the day of the Adolf Hitler Line battle. There had been plan and counter-plan; order and counter-order going on since 18th May, but, finally, the Army Commander visited 1st Canadian Division on 22nd May and the following general plan was formulated :
The 1st Canadian Division would assault the Hitler Line with two brigades of infantry, each supported by a Regiment of Churchill tanks, and preceded by a block barrage from approximately 600 guns. The division would assault on approximately a three thousand yards front; 2nd Brigade with N.I.H. on the right, 3rd Brigade with the 51st Royal Tank Regiment (R Tks.) on the left, and the first objective would be the centre part of the Pontecorvo-Aquino road.
Brigadier Gibson's plan was to attack two battalIions up: Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry with A Squadron N.I.H. in support on the right; the Seaforths of Canada with B Squadron on the left; C Squadron was to support B Squadron. The Loyal Edmonton Regiment, supported by B Squadron 51st R. Tanks was to follow up and pass through the Princess Pat's once the first objective had been consolidated. "H" Hour was 0600 hours.
The Commanding Officer allotted a forward observation officer from the Royal Devon Yeomanry to each of A and B Squadrons. The Reconnaissance Troop, under Lieut. H. E. Irwin, M.C., was to remain under Regimental control.
Go to next page
or return to the
Index