North Irish Horse World War II Diaries

August 1944 CO: Lt Col The Lord O'Neill
Aug 44 North Irish Horse
1/8/44 C.M.F.
A Sqn shell area North of INCISA.
3/8/44 B Sqn support SLI to SAN POLO and SAN BARTOLOMO. Recce troop contact enemy at BELMONTE and have one tank knocked out by a bazooka, three ORs being wounded. RHQ move to SAN POLO.
4/8/44 RHQ were shelled in area ANTELLA, 9 ORs being wounded, 2 subsequently died from wounds.
5/8/44 RHQ moves to area LA CAMPANNUCCIA. Tanks remain in harbour but provide harassing fire for night attack by 2nd SLI on Pt.568, 8866
7/8/44 A & B Sqns come under comd 10 Inf Bde. B Sqn move North of SAN DONATO in support of DCLI. A Sqn affiliated to Beds & Herts. RHQ move to Xrds 880639 adjacent to 10th Inf Bde HQ. C Sqn remains with 28th Inf Bde supporting 2/4th Hants.
8/8/44 DCLI with B Sqn in support take Pt.558 and clear enemy out of a heavily defended monastery. Tanks remain on objective and are heavily shelled, Lt JB Behr and 3 ORs being wounded. One tank is missed at 3 yard range by a bazooka.
9/8/44 Information received that 25th Tank Bde is to be withdrawn.
10/8/44 All Sqns concentrate in area East of SAN DONATO preparatory to moving South.
12/8/44 Tanks set out for Bde conc area at SAN MARIANO near PERUGIA, staging for night at AREZZO.
13/8/44 Soft vehicles move to conc area.
14/8/44 Tanks arrive at SAN MARIANO.
14 – 20 Period of rest and intensive maintenance. Very strict security measures enforced. Commander 8th Army visits Bde and at a representative parade puts personnel 'in the picture', a massed frontal assault on the GOTHIC LINE in the Adriatic sector, with VENICE and VIENNA as the ultimate objectives.
20/8/44 Tanks load on transporters and move to new Bde conc area near SERRA DI CONTI.
21/8/44 Remainder of Regt moves to same area and 25th Tank Bde comes under 46th Div, NIH affiliated to 128th Inf Bde.
24/8/44 RHQ join 128 Inf Bde HQ at HIPPOLITO.
25/8/44 Tanks and Ech conc South of FRATTE ROSA.
2300 – A Sqn move with 2nd Hampshire to force crossing of R. MATAURO.
26/8/44 Progress is very difficult owing to bad roads and demolitions but tanks cross river and take MONTE FELCINO. A Sqn harbour South of BARTOLO and B & C Sqns with RHQ move to area MONTE FELCINO.
27/8/44 A Sqn unable to advance owing to road demolitions and infantry refusing to push on without tank support remain with them on MONTE ALBULLO. Main opposition mortars and shelling.
28/8/44 B Sqn with 1/4th Hampshire have for their objective MONTE GAUDIO and high features to the West. The former was occupied but tanks which reached Pt.414
0168 had to return as infantry failed to follow up. Tanks are heavily shelled and mortared, one overturns and one OR is killed and four wounded. Another tank is hit by an A/Tk gun but there are no casualties.
RHQ moves to MONTE GROSSO experiencing shell fire en route.
29/8/44 C Sqn advance as far as R. APSA and support 5th Hampshire on to COLBORDOLO. Regt reverts to comd of 25 Tank Bde for a rest and maintenance period and whole Regt concentrates in area MONTE GROSSO.
30/8/44 Reports received that GOTHIC LINE has been penetrated in the Canadian sector, so it is decided to cross R. FOGLIA and attack the Line opposite COLBORDOLO. 2nd Hampshire cross the river and consolidate. The Regt moves to area Pt.293.
31/8/44 A Sqn leave harbour to support 2nd Hampshire who had reached the area of the GOTHIC LINE South of MONTE LEVECCIE. Great difficulty is experienced with road mines and an un-located SP gun halts progress. RHQ moves to area 002731.

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