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The Brigade Commander asked the Commanding Officer if he could arrange to carry out an offensive harassing shoot with the Squadron. We were only too delighted to have a really good go with the 75 mm. Major Mackean was instructed to contact all four Battalion Commanders on our front and to shoot up any place that was bothering them. A thousand rounds of ammunition were fired and as a result four parties of the enemy carrying Red Cross flags appeared at various points on the front.

23rd-24th June - On the 23rd a further shoot was carried out and on the 24th the hand-over was made to the 3rd Hussars. During the whole time on Ripa the Squadron looked across the Tiber to Perugia which fell to 6th Armoured Division on the 20th of the month.

The Sherman tanks were left behind at Bastia while the remainder of the Regiment came north to Narni. Those who had been with the composite Sherman Squadron returned by road and the Regiment was concentrated two miles outside the town of Narni 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 Regiment was informed that there would probably be an interval of three weeks and this was used to carry out training and a good deal of shooting, while as many people as possible went on 48 hours leave to Rome.

The Regiment was informed that the Sherman tanks left at Bastia would be replaced by a " mock up " 75 mm. Churchill and these started arriving on the 10th of July. The Regiment was the first Churchill Regiment to be given this type of tank and although it had not the gunnery gadgets of the Sherman it was welcomed by all ranks.

On 16th July news came through that it was likely the Regiment would operate with 4th British Infantry Division in the near future. It was hoped that we should be with 28th Infantry Brigade, commanded by Brigadier Montague Scott, D.S.O. Happily this wish was fulfilled. The following battle report was submitted covering the operations during the period 17th July till 9th August, 1944-

BATTLE REPORT

On 17th July orders were received from 25th Army Tank Brigade that the Regiment Would move to a concentration area near Arezzo On the 18th all tanks left on transporters and information was received that 25th Brigade would come under command of 4th British Infantry Division and that N.I.H. would be affiliated with 28th Infantry Brigade. The wheeled transport moved to Arezzo on 19th July.

20th July - The Commanding Officer and Squadron Leaders reported to Headquarters, 28th Brigade, and affiliations were arranged as follows:
   A Squadron with the 2nd King's Liverpools (2nd King’s).
   B Squadron with the 2nd Somerset Light Infantry (Som.L.I.).
   C Squadron with the 2nd-4th Hampshire Regiment (2-4 Hamps).
During the night 20th-21st July, C Squadron moved to the area of Bucine.

21st July - Regimental Headquarters moved to Headquarters 28th Brigade. Major R. D. Morton reported to Lieut. Col. Mitchell, com­manding 2nd-4th Hamps, who asked him to concentrate his Squadron in the area of Montevarchi by 1600 hours. The Commanding Officer of 2nd-4th Hamps outlined his plan for the following day. A patrol was to go to Meleto during the night of 21st-22nd July and if this place was found to be unoccupied, No. 2 Troop under Lieut Hubbard, was to support A Company in the advance through Meleto and up the divisional axis. If the patrol found Meleto occupied then Nos. 1 and 2 Troops would support A Company from the start line on to the ridge known as Points 211 and 217 - as a first objective and into Meleto as a second objective.

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