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4th-5th February - All was quiet. Lieut. Maguire stepped on a "S" mine and was lucky to escape with comparatively minor injuries.
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6th February - A strong German patrol attacked the Italians on the coast. The Honey Troop, after a harrowing night, restored the situation at daybreak. The Italians had much improved but were not steady when attacked at night. The Regiment knew the form by now and took no notice when told the entire German Army was assaulting the Italian platoon, but it was always difficult for the Troop on the spot as they never had any idea what was happening till they found out for themselves.
7th-11th February - There was nothing to report during these five days.
12th February - C Squadron took over eleven Shermans left by the Canadians in anti-tank roles from Route 16 to the Canale Bonificio. They were supposed to be "dug in" but only one was. They were all badly sited and of little or no use. They had crews of three and these crews were used to thicken up the infantry posts, since the tanks were of no use.
13th-21st February - Routine on all fronts. C Squadron was relieved from the "dug in" Shermans.
22nd February - The 17th Infantry Brigade relieved the and Canadian Brigade in B Squadron's sector. The 12th Lancers (dismounted) and and Commandos relieved the 22nd Regiment (Italian) astride the Canale Bonificio.
23rd February - The infantry take-over was completed and the Regiment remained in the same positions.
24th February - C Squadron took over from A Squadron and the reconnaissance Squadron along the river Reno.
25th-28th February - Nothing to report during this period.
1st March - Plans were finally made for an attack by Italian infantry supported by C Squadron (or vice versa as it turned out), to clear the base of the "Spit" i.e., the strip of land between Lake Comacchio and the Adriatic Sea.
2nd March - At H hour aircraft were to strafe and bomb the river bank and the point north of Casa Venti. and a "cab rank" was to be available for two hours afterwards. Artillery concentration on Casa Venti and counter-battery fire were to be used during the operation.
The 9th Company, 21st Regiment, was to do the initial assault followed by 9th Company, 22nd Regiment, and 1st Company, 22nd Regiment. No.3 Troop, C Squadron, on the right was to move with one platoon of 11th Company, No.2 Troop on the left in the woods, and one flame thrower was to go with each Troop. H hour was fixed for 1200 hours.
Accompanied by air strafing and artillery concentrations the leading Company left Casa Sanze Nome at H hour and reached a position two hundred yards north of Fillopine before making contact. No.3 Troop on the right advanced up the beach carrying their platoon. They dismounted them short of Fillopine and were met by Major Dawson who gave them the picture.
No.2 Troop moved up with a platoon of the reserve Company and advanced to a forward position covering Casa Venti. No.4 Troop by this time were in forward positions covering the canal bank. Meanwhile the flame tiirowers were ordered to pressure up and find a position near Fillopine in readiness for the assault on Casa Venti. The 95 mm. Churchills were given targets to shell in that area.
Just level with Fillopine one flame-thrower blew up on a mine and the other joined No.3 Troop on the beach. No.3 Troop advanced some five hundred yards up the beach and found excellent positions to fire on buildings around Casa Venti. Meanwhile the infantry were held up by a minefield and their sappers were experiencing difficulty in clearing it due to mortar and machine-gun fire. No.3 Troop and the flame-thrower were then ordered to return and close in on Venti, but when coming off the beach two tanks and the flame-thrower blew up on mines. The Royal Engineer Troop was brought up to clear this but shelling increased with movement and it became impossible. Sjt. F. Kennedy, M.M., reported enemy troops moving up the beach towards the tanks and all three tanks were engaged with high explosive shells and machine-gun fire, causing casualties, and the enemy withdrew.
During this time aircraft gave excellent close support, sometimes strafing within two hundred yards of our leading Troops.
Due to the infantry being held up on the minefield and tanks blowing up, it was decided to consolidate on the present line north of Fillopine. By 1730 hours the two flame throwers and one tank of No.3 Troop was repaired and the Troops returned to Borsetti for the night.
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