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Once more we had a short spell out of the line, but there was much work to do on the tanks. It was not long before we had news that we should be at it again and we were all delighted to hear that we were to return to our old friends, the 28th Infantry Brigade of the 4th British Infantry Division and the following battle report was submitted, covering the period 19th September to 25th Sep­tember, 1944:
After making a firm base on the Coriano and San Savino ridges the 1st British Armoured Division was passed through. Unfortunately Coriano proved a tougher proposition than expected and 1st British Armoured Division was held up. N.I.H. was concentrated just east of San G10vani and much needed maintenance carried out.

12th September - The 25th Army Tank Brigade was put under command of 4th British Infantry Division, under 1st Canadian Corps, with N.I.H. under command of the 28th Infantry Brigade. The 5th Canadian Armoured Division was to take Coriano. The 51st Battalion R. Tanks were to take Poggio and A and C Squadrons N.I.H. were to go through and take Bagli-Patrignano features.

13th September - The attack started and went well but the Regiment did not move on this day. On the 14th September the Regiment moved to the area of Misano.

15th September - At 0001 hours A Squadron followed by C Squadron moved forward to cross the river Marano and support the infantry on to the Bagli feature. The plan was for A Squadron and the 2nd Kings to move first and make the bridgehead, then take the right of the feature and pass C Squadron and the 2nd-4th Hamps through on the left. No. 3 Troop A Squadron, followed by Nos.1 and 2 Troops, were across by 0630 hours. C Squadron quickly followed A Squadron across. The 2nd-4th Hamps, working quicker than the 2nd Kings, were on their objective by 0700 hours with C Squadron in support. A Squadron and the 2nd Kings did not consolidate their objectives till mid­day. Throughout the day there was very heavy shelling which made all movement difficult. At last light C Squadron left Nos. 3 and 4 Troops with the 2nd-4th Hamps and B Squadron sent Nos. 4 and 5 Troops to relieve A Squadron, who returned to the Poggio area.

16th September—B Squadron moved Nos. 4 and 5 Troops to cover Point 137 but the enemy had already made a counter­attack and the tanks remained in a counter-attack position. Very heavy shelling was experienced. Lieut. G. Mahon's tank got a direct hit with a large calibre shell and had to be abandoned but was later recovered. Trooper Mitchell died of wounds. C Squadron moved to Patrignano at 2200 hours in preparation for an attack on Cerasola.

17th September - The plan was for B Squadron to support the 2nd Kings in their attack on Point 137 and for C Squadron and the 2nd-4th Hamps to clear Cerasola which was holding up the whole divisional front. At 0430 hours Lieut. B. E. S. King and No. 1 Troop of B Squadron moved along the road to clear the area of Point 126.
Three machine-gun posts were cleared up by the 2nd Kings and Lieut King, although wounded, took his Troop up to Point 137 by first light. He was being covered by No. 2 Troop. Just after first light two of Lieut. King's tanks were knocked out by a German Mark IV tank from Point 126. This Mark IV was, in turn, quickly knocked out by No. 2 Troop from their covering position. For the rest of the day, in very heavy shelling, Lieut. King made repeated trips to an observation post to direct artillery fire. Sjt. J. Maxwell and L. Cpl. Gifford were wounded and Tpr. D. James was killed.
Meanwhile, on the left, C Squadron started at 0530 hours and, guided by Lieut. Bexon, crossed the wadi in front of Cerasola and were on their objectives with the 2nd-4th Hamps by first light. Nos. i and 4 Troops covered the left and No. 2 Troop the right. All Troops were heavily shelled and there was sniping from the houses at La Pastoro which the infantry could not get at to clear.
Lieut. A. N. MacCJeary on the extreme left acted as observation post for the Royal Devon Yeomanry battery on several good shoots. At last light C Squadron remained with the 2nd-4th Hamps until relieved by the Yorkshire Dragoons at 0200 hours.

18th September - During the previous afternoon A Squadron had moved to Ospedaletto in preparation for the crossing of the river Aussa. They were to support the 1st Royal West Kents in this operation and were under command of the 12th Infantry Brigade.
The night of 17th-18th September was very confused, as the 1st Royal West Kents did not find the Cerasola ridge clear. Another attack by the Black Watch was also in progress on the right to clear the high ground overlooking the Aussa for an attack by the 51st Battalion Royal Tank Regiment.
At 0500 hours Major R. J. Griffiths, M.C., was still standing by as there was no firm bridgehead but he decided he must go before first light. Capt. A. K. E. Finch Noyes put out guides on the forward slope and No. 2 Troop went down to look for a crossing. This proved easier than expected and Nos. 2 and 4 Troops were quickly across, married up and supported their respective infantry companies on to their objectives, taking in all about 60 prisoners.
This operation was remarkably successful considering no re­connaissance had been made and a lot of it was done in the dark under heavy shelling. Both Lieut. F. A. Norris and Lieut. W. A. L. Reid deserve full credit. Again the tanks remained with the infantry throughout a very trying day.

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