1945

North Irish Horse World War II Diaries

April 1945	CO: Lt Col AWA Llewellyn Palmer DSO MC
Apr 45	North Irish Horse
1/4/45	ITALY Squadrons are dispersed as follows:- Recce Sqn in area SAN ALBERTO in positions to give fire in support of Cremona Gp and Garibaldi Bde. B Sqn moving to West bank of RENO in readiness for an attack in support 2nd Commando Bde. A & C Sqns in training area South of RAVENNA with 8th Indian Div.RHQ with HQ 8th Indian Div.
2/4/45	Just before midnight on 1st, 2 & 4 Troops B Sqn (Lts Brownfield Pope and Foott) crossed the RENO by Class 40 raft. The advance went well in spite of very bad going – one tank lost on a mine. Objective was reached with some casualties to 2nd Commando. Tanks harboured for the night on the East bank of the RENO.
3/4/45	The remainder of B Sqn crossed (less 1 troop) in support 43 RM Commando. Rapid progress was made in spite of heavy shelling in which one tank was lost. All objectives were reached.
4/4/45	B Sqn in counter-attack role.
5/4/45	B Sqn rallied in SAN ALBERTO having been relieved by 10th Royal Hussars. At 1000 tanks moved to MEZZANO in support of Cremona Group.
6/4/45	Regt less B Sqn under comd 19th Indian Inf Bde, 8th Indian Div, started to move forward to conc area NE of BAGNACAVALLO prior to SENIO crossing.
7/4/45	RHQ moved to conc area.
8/4/45	Recces and conferences held.
9/4/45	The plan for the crossing was that some hours before H hour, scheduled for 1920hrs, bombers and fighters will strafe both banks of the SENIO – arty concentrations also. Flame throwers will then flame both banks supported by tanks of A & C Sqns. At H+1 A&SH on the right and FFR on the left would cross.
10/4/45	All went according to plan and at 0400 tanks of C Sqn started to cross the Bailey bridge which had been put up by the REs. Lt DL Knight BEM, who had been controlling the crossing of the tanks, was wounded by a bomb dropped by the USAAF. Just short of the TRATTURO, C Sqn came across what was obviously a 'killing ground', 4Tp knocked out 2 SPs. A Sqn made contact with A&SH and moved off to the right. A canal barred their way but arrangements were made to cross by a facine at first light next morning. Over to our right B Sqn had reached the SENIO with the Cremona Group but bridging was very slow. 21 Tank Bde commander ordered them to use the bridge that A & C Sqns had used. Two troops did use this but were unable to get back to their area owing to A/Tk obstacles.
11/4/45	C Sqn. Sqn split in support 3/18 Punjab and 1st A&SH. A plan was made for an attack to the East to take place the next day. B Sqn. Italian bridge opened and 2Tp and 5Tp eventually crossed with great difficulty at 1200 and proceeded to contact infantry – occupied ALFONSINE and cut Route 16. A Sqn. Before first light a facine was put across the ARGINELLO. It was planned to do a right flank night march to embarrass the enemy. This was carried out successfully and nearly five miles were covered by night. Bridge layers, facines and a great deal of ingenuity went into making the operation a success.
12/4/45	C Sqn. Advanced about 2½ miles in an easterly direction South of the SANTERNO, meeting no opposition and finally harbouring 1 mile West of Route 16. B Sqn. 5Tp supported Cremona Group across FUSIGNANO. Remainder of the Sqn move up Route 16. A Sqn. Recces were made to the banks of R. RENO – 5 POW taken.
13/4/45	C Sqn. NTR. A Sqn. NTR B Sqn In support of Cremona for crossing of SANTERNO. Very heavy opposition and infantry not across until 1730. 2Tp Leaders tank hit by Panzerfaust but NO penetration. Tanks were unable to cross as the only possible place (made by Germans) was used by Italian engineers to build a bridge.
14/4/45	B Sqn came under Regt command.
14 – 19	Regt under comd 8th Indian Div in Army Reserve.
20/4/45	Regt ordered to support 8th Indian Div up Route 16 to capture FERRARA and reach the PO. B Sqn move to area CONSONDOLA. C Sqn move to same area.
21/4/45	B Sqn moved up Route 16 with little or no opposition. A Sqn move to harbour about 6 miles North of ARGENTA. C Sqn in reserve.
22/4/45	B Sqn continued advance up Route 16 against heavier opposition. At 1600 A Sqn passed through B Sqn and moved up to FERRARA against some opposition. The bridge across the PO DI VOLANO was blown up in sight of the leading tanks and FERRARA was denied us. C Sqn in support of 21 Inf Bde advanced to within 2 miles of the SW side of FERRARA where they were held up in the evening by enemy tanks.
23/4/45	C Sqn (3&4 Troops), under Capt Milne reached the PO in support of Royal West Kents at 1045, just to the North of FERRARA. 1&2 Troops under Capt Norris made progress against considerable opposition, up to the PO DI VOLANO in support of 1st Manarattas. B Sqn met considerable opposition and demolitions to the North of FERRARA in support of Jaipurs but eventually succeeded in supporting them onto Route 16. A Sqn did some shooting into FERRARA in support of 1st A&SH.
24/4/45	B Sqn moved on across the North of FERRARA and then struck down to the South. A Sqn crossed into FERRARA and gave support to 1st A&SH into northern outskirts of the town. C Sqn NTR.
25/4/45	All Sqns concentrated NW of FERRARA in readiness for PO crossing.
26/4/45	C Sqn crossed at 1000 and concentrated in area OCCHIOBELLO. 3 & 4 Troops of A Sqn followed but torrential rain prevented any further crossings.
27/4/45	All A Sqn including their echelon crossed the PO. C Sqn supported 17th Indian Inf Bde to within 2000 yards of the ADIGE. B Sqn follow across the PO as also did RHQ.
28/4/45	A Sqn concentrate in ROVIGO DI COSTA. B Sqn move North to near ROVIGO DI COSTA. C Sqn support FFR to line of ADIGE. A link up was made with 6th Armd Div.
29/4/45	NO bridge over ADIGE. All Sqns in conc area. Bridge expected North of ROVIGO on Route 16 tomorrow.
30/4/45	8th Indian Div ordered to 'STAND DOWN'.

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