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During the period 10th-16th March one Troop was maintained with the Parachute Brigade, and this task was carried out alter­nately by No. 2 and No. 5 Troops. They took part in small engagements daily and had many unpleasant nights in the forward area. On 11th March, A/Lt. R. E. Perioli's Troop supported 1st Parachute Battalion with Besa fire in the area about Ahmed Baleus from 1200 hours, when an attack was made eastwards : the tanks supported from the right flank. A number of enemy infantry was seen but the results of the fire could not be checked. At 1400 hours Capt. R. D. Morton in a close support tank, together with Lieut. J. E. Williams' Troop supported 2nd Parachute Battalion with Besa fire from the high ground north of Rag Bou Krachiba. No enemy were seen then, but when 2nd Parachute Battalion later succeeded in advancing on to this ground some 100 enemy dead were found. On 12th and 13th March one Troop remained in an anti-tank role covering the Sejenane road and a further Troop took up a position on 12th March to cover the area about Djebel Abiod. This latter Troop was withdrawn at first light on 19th March. Whilst engaged in these operations the Squadron harboured in an area near a mine on the road Beja-Djebel Abiod.

On 14th March we nearly lost our Padre, Capt. E. M. Hughes, who was on his way to take a service with C Squadron. He was attacked by an enemy aircraft which shot up his car most accurately and caused him and his driver great discomfort in a nearby ditch for several minutes. The Padre got a lift on to the harbour, took his service there and returned in time to conduct a Memorial Service in the B Squadron lines for Major Rew. Every man in the Regiment was thankful for his escape.

In the Beja sector from 8th March until 9th April the Regiment, less three Troops of C Squadron, remained in the area Hunt's Gap-Beja and during this time Troops occupied a position round Ksar Mezouar Farm and, on several occasions, Sidi Ameur, by day and night. On the night of 20th-21st March two Troops of A Squadron, under command of Capt. Griffith, had to move back into "The Loop" position owing to a reported threat of enemy armour from the area. "The Loop" was occupied by them all the following day and they had a most unpleasant time, being most accurately mortared and shelled by the enemy who had observation posts on the high ground immediately to the north.

The 128th Infantry Brigade was also ordered at this time to provide a counter-attack force which consisted of infantry, tanks, anti-tank guns and artillery, and was placed under command of Major The Lord O'Neill. The infantry for this force was found successively by and 4th Hamps, 8th Argyll and Sutherland High­landers and 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers, who occupied the stop line which ran, from 16th March onwards, north and south astride the road Beja-Ksar Mezour about two miles to the east of Sidi Mimech.

By 19th March the German pressure had increased along the northern front and it was decided to withdraw to a line running roughly north-west to south-east through Djebel Abiod, which was definitely to be the stop line. The 138th Brigade arrived about this time to reinforce 1st Parachute Brigade and the Sherwood Forresters took over from 3rd Parachute Battalion in the area round Tamara. No. 5 Troop C Squadron, which was at Tamara, was withdrawn on the evening of 9th March before it got too dark and it was as well that this step was taken, since during the night 17th-18th March the Forresters withdrew.

On 18th March No. 2 Troop Squadron helped to cover the withdrawal of 139th Brigade and and Parachute Battalion back to the Djebel Abiod line. Major Welch moved his harbour that day to a position along the road Tabarka-Djebel Abiod. On 20th March, No. 2 Troop, commanded by and Lt. Perioli, took part in a moonlight attack on Nefza Station in support of one Company and Parachute Battalion. It was very difficult to see but 2nd/Lieut. Perioli successfully joined his infantry and gave them all possible help into the station which the Leicestershires had reported as being occupied by the enemy. On arrival no Germans were found on the position, but a strong patrol was driven off down the railway line.

On 27th March the 46th Division offensive began. The C Squadron Troops were under command of 138th Brigade and had to make a very difficult night march on 27th-28th to a rendezvous south-east of Djebel Abiod to join up with the Lincolns by 0600 hours on a8th March. This was not helped by the fact that the R.Es. were late in clearing a minefield outside Djebel Ab10d, but the rendezvous was reached on time. At 0600 hours on 27th March personnel of the Lincolns mounted the tanks and the advance began towards the mine above Sedjenane. This force at once came under fire from the feature immediately to its front, despite the fact that it had been reported clear. The Lincolns continued to advance and were supported by our tanks until a wadi was reached which was found to be un-crossable. The tanks accordingly stopped in position there and covered the York and Lanes and King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry who also had to advance up the hill. At least two enemy machine-gun posts were put out of action and five prisoners were taken as a result of our supporting fire. During 29th and 30th March the C Squadron force remained in reserve at the ford in this area and on 31st March moved up the road Djebel Abiod-Sedjenane with 8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. This was very slow work due to mines and very heavy enemy aircraft attacks. Lieut. J. E. Williams' tank got a direct hit from an aircraft but none of the crew was injured and the tank was safely evacuated. Meanwhile a Troop was supporting the 8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders who were held up in the woods west of Sedjenane, and No. 5 Troop under Lieut. Whelan was trying to get up the track to the mine to help 6th Royal West Kents, but was stopped by darkness. At about 1200 hours Brigadier Hewlett was put in command of this sector by Commander, 5th Corps, Lieut.General C. W. Allfrey, who ordered Sedjenane to be taken that night. This was success­fully accomplished.

On 1st April, and Lieut. Perioli arrived before the bridge to the west of Sedjenane and found it blown. With the help of the R.Es he managed to cross the ford and to advance through Sedjenane into an area which was very heavily mined. Lieut. Whelan continued his advance towards the mine, which was oc­cupied by the Lincolns just before he got there. There was again very heavy air attack all that day. That evening No. 5 Troop lost one tank on a mine and was compelled to remain in Sedjenane for the night. On 2nd April, 138th Brigade took over from 36th Brigade who pushed forward and found that the Germans had gone right back and that to the north 1st Parachute Brigade was advancing with the object of clearing Cape Serrat with the aid of the Goums. These French toops did magnificent work throughout the campaign. On 3rd April all C Squadron Troops were allowed to withdraw into harbour and from then until 12th April remained in reserve in a big wood to the west of Sedjenane. On 12th April, with the exception of one Troop which was left under command of and U.S. Corps which had relieved the British in the northern sector, this C Squadron force returned to Beja. On 13th April C Squadron, less one Troop, which was now under command of 18th Brigade, was ordered out to Ksar Mezouar, but was not used and was withdrawn next day.

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