Page Twenty-five

17. ‘C’ Squadron of the North Irish Horse, were endeavouring to move forward up the road from Cello to Borello but found it impassable, so a route was found along the river bed and the tanks eventually reached their objective by this way. A plan had been made for the 20th Indian Infantry Brigade to attack Monte Cavallo supported by ‘C’ Squadron, while ‘A’ Squadron supported an attack by the 25th Indian Infantry Brigade on Monte Della Revere, but it had only limited success, and although ‘C’ Squadron had reached Borello, ‘A’ Squadron found it impossible to cross the Savio to support the 25th Indian Infantry Brigade.

18. During the night 22/23 October the question of supply, as on the previous night, was once more a major problem and involved hazardous work on the part of the echelon personnel before the supplies were ferried across the river. The tank crews also spent another uncomfortable night. After having spent the day in their tanks during the fighting, they were constantly at the alert during the night as well a being subject to the enemy’s harassing fire. On 23 October the fighting was as fierce as ever, with intense shelling and mortaring continuing, but by 0900 hrs ‘B’ Squadron of the 142nd Regiment Royal Armoured Corps had crossed the river to relieve ‘A’ Squadron which, in support of the 1st Royal West Kents, was reduced to five fit tanks.

19. It was still not possible to extend the bridgehead far enough to allow the 10th Infantry Brigade to pass through, so it was decided to pass the 1st/6th Surreys with the support of ‘B’ Squadron of the 51st Royal Tanks over under the command of the 12th Infantry Brigade, and the tanks commenced crossing the river at 1600 hours being across at last light with a total of thirteen tanks, after which it was considered that the Ark bridge was unsafe until further repairs had been carried out. With these extra reinforcements it was planned to make a three-pronged attack on 22 October, with the 6th Black Watch on the right, moving forward up Route 9 to Torre del Moro supported by ‘C’ Squadron of the 142nd Regiment Royal Armoured Corps in the centre directed upon San Mauro in Valle, while on the left the 1st/6th Surreys with ‘B’ Squadron of the 51st Royal Tanks were directed down Route 71 to the Agricultural College at 571058.

20. On the 10th Indian Divisional front progress was again slow owing to blows and mines. ‘B’ Squadron at last vacated their semi-permanent positions on Monte Farneto, which they had been occupying since 7 October, and moved to Borello to take over the commitments of ‘C’ Squadron with the 20th Indian Infantry Brigade, while ‘C’ Squadron were made free to support the 43rd Indian Lorried Infantry Brigade directed on Monte della Rovere (5302). Moving down the river this Squadron eventually reached Castiglione but progress was once more halted by demolitions and craters. A recce was made of the track from Monte Cavallo to Tesselo (5002) but this proved a very difficult route.

21. The attack to expand the 12th Infantry Brigade’s bridgehead commenced at first light and it was apparent that the enemy was feeling the strain of the recent hard fighting as opposition was light and good progress was made, with the tanks covering the infantry forward all sectors. The object of the attack was achieved and the remainder of the 10th Infantry Brigade and the 51st Royal Tanks commenced to cross the river preparatory to continuing the advance. The 10th Infantry Brigade intended the 2nd Bedfords with ‘A’ Squadron of the 51st Royal Tanks to attack on the night of 24/25 October to capture Bertinoro after which the 2nd DCLI with ‘C’ Squadron would pass through.

22. The North Irish Horse were still meeting the difficulties to which they were now inured after their experiences of the last three weeks. The 43rd Indian Lorried Infantry Brigade, following the usual practice of the Gurkhas with night attacks had taken Tesselo, but ‘C' Squadron had a hard time reaching Monte della Rovere. ‘B’ Squadron, higher in the hills, had a slightly more easier time, and one troop fired in support of the 3rd/5th Mahrattas who were held up short of Teodorano. The 383rd Battery of the 142nd Army Field Regiment Royal Artillery also provided valuable fire support in this sector, having good results against enemy positions in and around the village.

The Advance to the River Ronco

23. The attack of the 10th Infantry Brigade went in during the night of 24/25 October, but at first light opposition was still being met from the Bertinoro position. ‘A’ Squadron moved forward to support their infantry but the going was extremely heavy off the roads which themselves were heavily mined, and it was not until later in the day when the infantry had taken Bertinoro that they were able to marry up with them.

24. At 1000 hours the 2nd DCLI passed through and contact with the enemy was lost until the village of Solbagnono had been reached, and ‘C’ Squadron, joining their infantry here assisted in beating off enemy counter-attacks. The advance had gone forward quickly and it was decided to try and push forward over the Ronco, and preliminary recces were carried out to this end, but the patrolling party reported heavy mortaring and machine gun fire from the west bank in the area 475109, and that no crossing was possible without bulldozing the banks.

Crossing of the River Ronco

25. Further recces were carried out and suitable infantry crossings were found with the result that it was decided that the 2nd DCLI should cross the river during the night of 25/26 October and ‘C’ Squadron of the 51st Royal Tanks support them at first light on 26 October. It was not until 0200 hours on 26 October that a suitable tank crossing was found which oven then required a certain amount of mine clearance before it could be used. (1)

26. There was little change on the North Irish Horse front during 25 October, it being a repetition of the hard luck story against natural obstacles. The 3rd/1st Punjabs had taken Teodorano and ‘B’ Squadron, endeavouring to push forward towards Monte Palareto (47014) to their support, were confronted by an impassable stretch of road.. ‘C’ Squadron were also struggling hard towards Potenta (5004) but the nature of their difficulties can be readily understood when it is told that in one stretch of one mile road, no less than eight different types of mines were cleared, and one tank was actually lost on one. During the day Main Brigade Headquarters moved into Cesena.

(1) Map 14. Advance across the Ronco 26 October - 2 November 1944.

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