Page Twenty-four

Advance to River Savio

It was generally expected that, as soon as the foothills and the strongly defended positions round RIMINI had been passed, movement would be fast over the flat plains to the North. This might have been so if the weather had held, but heavy rain fell towards the end of September. Shallow streams which might well have been forded with ease early in the month became deep rivers, and the flat low-lying ground bogged down the tanks.

Soon it was evident that there was to be no fast movement. 2 NEW ZEALAND DIVISION was pressing slowly NORTH along Route 16 and 5 CORPS were making equally slow progress WEST along Route 9. Between them were 5 CANADIAN ARMOURED DIVISION aiming for RUSSI. In the middle of October 1 CANADIAN INFANTRY DIVISION were called upon, again, with 21 TANK BRIGADE in support, to take over the 5 CORPS sector astride Route 9.

The series of operations conducted between 16 Oct and 26 Oct by 1 CANADIAN INFANTRY DIVISION with under command 145 RAC and 12 R TKS less one squadron can be divided into three broad phases as follows:

PHASE I. 16 - 20 Oct. The advance to the RIVER PISCIATELLO, the crossing of this river and the subsequent advance to the line of the SAVIO RIVER. During this Phase the enemy was carrying out a planned withdrawal in a series of short bounds. Contact was in general light except for a patch of determined resistance on the PISCIATELLO. Advance to River Savio

It was generally expected that, as soon as the foothills and the strongly defended positions round RIMINI had been passed, movement would be fast over the flat plains to the North. This might have been so if the weather had held, but heavy rain fell towards the end of September. Shallow streams which might well have been forded with ease early in the month became deep rivers, and the flat low-lying ground bogged down the tanks.

Soon it was evident that there was to be no fast movement. 2 NEW ZEALAND DIVISION was pressing slowly NORTH along Route 16 and 5 CORPS were making equally slow progress WEST along Route 9. Between them were 5 CANADIAN ARMOURED DIVISION aiming for RUSSI. In the middle of October 1 CANADIAN INFANTRY DIVISION were called upon, again, with 21 TANK BRIGADE in support, to take over the 5 CORPS sector astride Route 9.

PHASE II. 21 - 23 Oct. Break-in on SAVIO LINE: a period of very stiff infantry fighting against a determined and temporarily well-sited enemy. Owing to the failure to construct a bridge or crossing over the SAVIO, tanks took little part in this Phase.

PHASE III. 24 - 26 Oct. The pursuit of the enemy with drawing in the WEST to the line of the RONCO RIVER. By using 4 DIVISION bridge, tanks were able to support infantry in this Phase, though contact was again light.

Weather and terrain combined to make effective use of annour extremely difficult. The SAVIO RIVER, swollen by rain, was the line along which the enemy chose to make his main defence effort as he swung back after losing the high ground of CESENA. On no other position was there an attempt at more than local and temporary delaying. Demolitions held us back effectively during these disengaging movements which preceded and followed the battle for the SAVIO LiNE, and demolitions, with one exception, were carried out with characteristic foresight and thoroughness.

On 11 Oct 1 CANADIAN INFANTRY DIVISION took over the front in the SAN ARCANGELO area from 56 BRITISH INFANTRY DIVISION and moved from RICCIONE to do this. This brigade went to under command 1 CANADIAN CORPS and the whole brigade was put at 24 hours’ noticed to move with a view to supporting 1 CANADIAN iNFANTRY DIVISION, but owing to the state of the ground after the recent heavy rain the employment of tanks in large numbers was out of the 16/17 Oct44. On 16 Oct the tie-up between ‘B’ Squadron 12 R TKS and LER and between ‘A’ Squadron and SEAFORTHS was completed. Particularly in the latter case, officers of the squadron were able early in the day to meet all the representatives of the other supporting arms in the question. One battalion would probably been needed and it was decided that this should be 12 R TKS, as 1 CANADIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE was to be the first infantry brigade of the division committed.

The move of 12 R TKS less ‘C’ Squadron (left in RICCIONE to train with their newly arrived CROCODILE flamethrowers) took place on 14 Oct after a 24 hours’ postponement and after spending one night in the SAN ARCANGELO area the battalion moved forward to the SAVIGNANO area. 12 R TKS, on moving forward, came under command 1 CANADIAN iNFANTRY DIVISION. 1 CANADIAN iNFANTRY BRIGADE had been in the line for several days and it was planned to use 2 CANADIAN iNFANTRY BRIGADE supported by 12 R TKS lest one squadron to attack to the line of the RIVER PISCIATELLO.

Turn to the
Next Page