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SOGLIANO-MONTE FARNETO-CESENA

On 26th September the Regiment had been ordered to be ready to support the 10th Indian Division, who were to take over from the 4th Indian Division on 1st October. The Regiment alone supported the Division through October. The Division was four brigades strong and this meant very hard work for the three fighting Squadrons since, at the best, it meant one Squadron supporting a brigade.
The divisional line of advance was through the foothills of the main Apennine range flanking the main Rimini-Bologna road, the country being a series of steep ridges which ran across the line of advance. There was a steep wadi or river between each ridge. Each of these ridges had to be assaulted and by this movement, through very difficult country, the main defences on the Bologna road up to and including Cesena, were turned.
A very heavy burden was placed on Squadron Leaders and recon­naissance captains during this period, as every move had to be reconnoitred on foot. This also meant that tank commanders were constantly out of their tanks and up with the forward infantry trying to get their tanks into position. Enemy shell fire, due to good observation, was always accurate and heavy. We had two very severe losses during the period - Lieut. Col. The Lord O'Neill and Major W. M. Mackean, M.C. both were killed whilst on reconnaissance.
Supply was also a major problem, but due to untiring work by Squadron Echelons and Headquarters Squadron the forward tanks were reached every night.

2nd October - C Squadron was under command of 25th Indian Infantry Brigade and was ordered to cross the Rubicon and relieve the 6th Battalion R. Tanks. By evening the Squadron was concentrated in the area Gormacchiara and liaison established with the infantry. There was some shelling due to movement by the relieving Troops. Heavy rain slowed up movement.

4th October - Lieut. Hubbard and No. 2 Troop moved up to Borghi during the day and a plan was made to attack S. Martino that night, using the 1st King's Own from the Montale direction. No. 2 Troop was to support by fire on fixed lines. Good results were obtained according to the infantry but even with artificial moonlight shooting accurately was very difficult. The King's Own attack failed and at first light they were held on the edge of the village.
A and B Squadrons moved into the Poggio Berni area.

5th October—During the previous day Major R. J. Griffith, M.C., had tied up with 20th Indian Infantry Brigade and during the night 4th-5th October Capt. A. K. E. Finch Noyes marched from Scorticata to the top of San Giovanni with a No. 22 wireless set on a mule, to keep in touch with the 2nd-3rd Royal Gurkhas who were directed on Sogliano. Lieut. J. A. Waters with No. 3 Troop of A Squadron, supported by Lieut. H. E. Irwin's Reconnaissance Troop Shermans, was to work round by road through Montale-Montevecchia in support. After the heavy rain the tanks were completely road-bound and when the leading tank was blown up on a mine they were unable to proceed. They were in view from San Martino and were heavily shelled. Meanwhile the 2nd-3rd Gurkhas captured Sogliano.
C Squadron had been planning with the 1st King's Own during the day for another attack on San Martino. This was made during the night 5th-6th October and supported by Lieut. Bexon with No. 4 Troop, C Squadron, from Vecchiano, and by Lieut. Irwin's Shermans. The attack was very successful and by first light the village was clear.
The mined tank of A Squadron was very ably recovered during the night by L-Sjt. Jackson and A Squadron armoured recovery vehicle.

6th October - We now held the whole ridge from Sogliano to Borghi and plans were made for 20th Indian Infantry Brigade to capture Monte Farneto, supported by B Squadron and for 25th Indian Infantry Brigade to capture Roncofreddo-San Lorenzo, supported by C Squadron, A Squadron sending No. 4 Troop under Lieut. J. S. Milne to Strigara, under command of the Central Indian Horse.

7th-8th October - On the night 6th-7th October reconnaissances of the river Fiumicino were carried out by both B and C Squadrons. On B Squadron's front the bridge below Sogliano was found intact and siezed, which simplified their problem. Lieut. MacGleary, Sjt. Williams and Sjt. Thacker all took out patrols for C Squadron but could find no very suitable place as all the tracks down were narrow and steep. Lieut. MacCleary went out again on the night 7th-8th October and crossed the river, finding a possible place.

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