42. On 4 September 'B’ Squadron North Irish Horse on the right moved in support of the 1st/4th Hampshires who at dawn were approximately two miles north of San Clemente. The advance was slow, isolated machine gun positions having to be dealt with. The road junction 895870, approximately one mile west of the village of Coriano (8787) was reached when enemy self-propelled guns opened up from the Coriano ridge, which during the next few days was to be the scene of some very bitter fighting. The tank of the Squadron Second-in-Command was hit and destroyed, and there was little doubt but that the enemy had in the vicinity a number of tanks, self propelled guns and anti-tank guns, and consequently the plan for ‘A’ Squadron with the 46th Reconnaissance Regiment was abandoned, and the tanks were ordered to form a firm base through which the 1st British Armoured Division would pass from Point 157 (8982) to Point 174 (8882). As the leading tanks of the Armoured Division moved up an enemy tank was observed on the Coriano ridge which ‘A’ Squadron North Irish Horse engaged and put out of action. Three more enemy tanks were engaged by the Churchills, one being knocked out and one hit and damaged. The two squadrons rallied back both close behind the San Clemente feature for the night, where they suffered considerably from heavy enemy shelling.

43. On the left the 1st/5th Foresters supported by ‘C’ Squadron the 51st Royal Tanks commenced their attack at 0545 hours and captured the high ground Cevelobatte (8882). Little opposition was encountered and the Conca was crossed without incident and the area of Il Trebbio (8782) reached, lying approximately one third of a mile west of Croce. The next intention was for the 2nd/5th Leicesters supported by ‘B’ Squadron 51st Royal Tanks to pass through directed on Vecciano (8486) some two and three quarter miles northwest of Croce on the north side of the River Marano, where they were to establish a bridgehead. On reaching the Forester’s line, the 2nd/5th Leicesters and ‘B’ Squadron were held up by enemy fire from Croce, upon which ‘B’ Squadron moved round to give left flank protection, taking some thirty prisoners and knocking out many machine guns, Leading elements of the 2nd Armoured Brigade now began to appear to take over this sector from ‘B’ Squadron the 51st Royal Tanks when they were fired upon by an anti-tank gun from the Gemmano area, on the left (8580). This enemy gun was engaged by ‘B’ Squadron who put it out of action and the advance was halted to allow the 2nd Armoured Brigade to pass through.

44. The 25th Tank Brigade was now relieved from immediate operational commitments, but the congested state of the roads made it quite impossible for any tank movement and consequently both the North Irish Horse and the 51st Royal Tanks concentrated just back from the area in which they had been fighting, North Irish Horse suffering particularly from the heavy shelling of the enemy against both regiments, and which increased in intensity day by day. The enemy opposition on the Coriano ridge unfortunately proved much stronger than expected and tne 1st British Armourel Division were unable to make the advance which had been anticipated, and in fact were involved in some heavy and bitter fighting. It was obvious that the break-through and exploitation into the plain could no longer be achieved and a re-grouping of forces would be necessary, and on 7 September orders were received placing the 25th Tank Brigade, less the 142nd Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, under command 1 Canadian Corps who were still operating on the right of 5 Corps. The 142nd Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps was to remain with 5 Corps under command of the 46th Division, so that the Brigade found itself spread over a fairly wide front. In the meantime Main Brigade Headquarters had moved to the area of Colle Bovelli (937777) and the move of the Brigade to concentration areas under 1 Canadian Corps commenced on 8 September with the North Irish Horse, to be followed on the 9th by Main Brigade Headquarters setting up at 1600 hours at 985793 about three quarters of a mile west of Tomba di Pesaro. On the same day ‘A’ Squadron 1st Assault Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, Royal Engineers was placed under command of the 25th Tank Brigade. On the 10th the 51st Royal Tanks and the Brigade services, less those sections required by the 142nd Regiment, completed the concentration of the Brigade. Of the Brigade services the 5th Light Field Ambulance had been under command 5 Corps, but on the 11th it returned to under command of the Brigade, moving to Cattolica on the coast.

4-5. The Brigade had now been passed to under command the 4th British Infantry Division to renew partnership once more, and plans were prepared for the next phase of operations.

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