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25th October - The 1st-3rd Punjabs attacked Teodorano during the night and were successful. B Squadron pushed down and was with them at first light. They then tried to push on towards Monte Palareto but were stopped by an impassable hogs-back bridge.
C Squadron spent a very trying day getting from Delia Rovere to Polenta. Engineers had to work the whole way. There were eight different sorts of mines in one mile of road. The leading tank was blown up early on and the co-driver evacuated.
Supply was now a real problem - B Squadron could be reached by jeeps but C Squadron was not reached for two days. The infantry supplies were on mules, the jeep-head being about five miles from the leading companies.
26th October - B Squadron stuck in Teodorano and C Squadron in the same position in Polenta. Reconnaissances of the river Ronco was carried out but division would not allow any tanks to move.
27th October - Further reconnaissance was carried out but no move was allowed.
29th October - The Regiment was ordered to concentrate in the Cesena area.
It was expected that the Regiment would remain in Cesena for approximately sixteen days' rest and re-fit. A Workshops' programme was arranged and many officers and other ranks sent on a well-earned leave. Great difficulty was experienced in arranging the concentration as both B and C Squadrons were stuck in the hills around Monte Cavallo due to the heavy rain. However, by the 3rd of November the last B Squadron tank was back in Cesena.
7th November - Brigadier J. N. Tetley, D.S.O., T.D., Commander of 25th Army Tank Brigade, arrived and ordered a composite Squadron to be formed immediately to support the 12th Infantry Brigade of 4th British Infantry Division. This Squadron was formed with difficulty due to leave and overhauls.
Lieut. Colonel A. W. A. Llewellen-Palmer, D.S.O., M.C., arrived and assumed command of the Regiment.
The fighting from the 9th November until the 3rd December is difficult to follow without a large-scale map. The operations consisted of the clearing of Forli, the crossing of the Montone and approaches to the Lamone rivers. Incessant rain made movement off the road almost impossible. The country here is absolutely flat except for the flood banks, is very highly cultivated with vines growing on poplar trees in rows about fifty feet apart. It is intersected by canals which, at this time of year, are full of water and complete tank obstacles. There are farmhouses and buildings every few hundred yards. This meant house-to-house fighting all the way. The enemy fought for every yard of ground and a day's fighting seldom resulted in more than a few hundred yards advance. No outflanking was possible. The enemy had more infantry on the ground than we had and every road was covered by enemy tanks or anti-tank guns. These had to be spotted, then made to move by our own fire or by heavy artillery or, weather permitting - which it seldom did - by fighter-bombers.
The Regiment supported eight different brigades in this short period. As one infantry brigade became exhausted it was relieved by another to whom we transferred. In the end the Regiment was reduced to four operational tanks. We were short of tanks all the time as we started operations in the middle of a complete overhaul and engine change. Tanks came up from workshops in one's and two's, thus orders of battle for this period altered constantly.
The methods used to deal with enemy-held buildings varied considerably. The most usual was for one tank to go forward and engage at point-blank range, covered by the second tank - on a pre-arranged signal the infantry rushed the house. The remaining Germans then usually surrendered. Sometimes the infantry led, covered by the fire from tanks. The capture of each house, ditch or canal had to have a separate plan.
8th November - The composite Squadron moved to Forlimpopoli at 0700 hours and remained there the rest of the day. The force then split as under:
With 6th Black Watch (6th B.W.) - Major R. J. Griffiths, M C., and two Troops of A Squadron.
With 4th Royal West Kents (4th R.W.K.) - Capt. H. E. Irwin, M.C., and remainder of free (three Troops). Their task was to support their two battalions in an attack across the airfield to sieze Forli. The airfield and bridgehead over the Ronco river had already been cleared and formed by 28th Infantry Brigade and loth Infantry Brigade respectively.
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