Page Thirty-six

21. Meanwhile away on the left of the divisional sector, the lone troop from ‘A' Squadron continued to wend its tedious and difficult way along narrow roads through the hills in support of Central India Horse. They were finally held up by a blown road about one and a half miles southeast of the small village of Santa Maria Riopotra through which passes the road running across the Savio to join Route 71, the main road running southwest from Cesena. It was impossible for the troop to get off the road and they were informed that the road would be repaired by that evening and they had to be content to stay there for the rest of the day.

22. With San Paolo finally cleared, 2nd/4th Gurkha Rifles went forward during the day 11 October to take the features of Monte delle Feroche and Montenueve, which dominated the roads running southeast from Route 9 through the village of Montiano (R 6400), one of the objectives of 46th Division on the right. During the night 12/13 October 2nd/4th Gurkha Rifles again advanced. to take Monte Bora (R 5987) south of the village of Ardiano, and ‘A’ Squadron had been warned to be prepared to move at first light on to Monte Spaccato, lying just forward of San Paolo, to Monteleone, The roads from San Paolo were known to be heavily mined but the Squadron Leader thought that he may be able to got the tanks round by a ‘V’ shaped track in area R 6395, southwest of the village. The Squadron did not move during the day, however, and at 1830 hours weere still awaiting permission to use the road to Monte Spaccato. No.4 Troop of the Squadron, with Central India Horse also spent a day of waiting as they were unable to get over the damaged road which had not boon repaired, and it was still impossible to get off the roads.

23. During 13 October the tanks of ‘A’ Squadron were at last able to move forward to Monteleone, and then at 2300 hours they moved forward once more to the area, of Point 345 (R 6096) northwest of the village from where they could be called forward to Sorriveli (R 6198) which had been cleared during the day by the 1st Durhams. The intention was to support the attack of 4th/10th Baluchs on the important village of Diolaguardia (R 5898). In the meantime 43rd Gurkha Lorried Infantry Brigade had been going forward, in spite of heavy fighting, to take Monte dell Erta (R 5696), which represented the furthest advance of the Division.

24. No move was undertaken during the day by ‘B’ Squadron, not well dug in on Monte Farneto, but ‘C’ Squadron, less three tanks, moved into the vicinity of Roncofreddo.

25. On 14 October the weather was fine and the tracks wore gradually drying out. The infantry had attacked during the night but had not been able to reach their objective, being halted on Point 353 (596996), where they were pinned down by heavy defensive fire including artillery.

26. The tanks of ‘A’ Squadron moved out of harbour and by 0900 hours one troop had crossed the ford at H 607932 on the road. to Serriveli, but were held up by a blow in the road at H 607986. One further Troop was moving down to join the first one, while the third troop remained on Point 345 with a troop of M.10 Anti-tank guns, waiting to cross when the opportunity arose. At 1730 hours the first two troops No.2 and No.3 were still held up at the blown road which it was not possible to negotiate, and to complicate matters still further the road behind them had collapsed owing to the weight of tanks on a surface which had been weakened by the continuous heavy rains. Until the roads were repaired, no further movement of tanks was permissible and defensive positions were therefore occupied by No.2 and No.3 Troops and contact made with the 1st Durhams by foot and 4th/10th Baluchs by wireless. The third troop still remained on Point 345. The infantry were still meeting heavy resistance, but during the night the enemy withdrew and our troops occupied the village.

27. ‘B’ Squadron once more had changed command this time to under 10th Indian Infantry Brigade, and at 11.30 hours moved out of harbour with the intention of reaching Monteleono but owing to the state of the roads and heavy going off the roads were unable to reach the village and harboured about two miles to the southeast of it. ‘C’ Squadron had now managed to extricate all their tanks and were cleaning up in the area of Roncofreddo. No.4 Troop had managed to negotiate the blown road which had been barring their progress and had moved forward of Santa Maria Riopotra with the Central India Horse who were pushing out patrols to the River Savio and the bridges at R 559930 and R 561959.

28. On 15 October No 2 and No 3 Troops were able to advance further towards Diolaguardia, but owing to the narrowness of the road and another crater they were unable to reach the village itself but harboured just short of it, while Royal Engineers worked throughout the night to repair the road. During the night 2nd/4th Gurkha Rifles had attacked and captured Monte delle Vacche, and 4th/10th Baluchs now passed through 1st Durhams pushing on beyond Diolaguardia towards Montereale, lying about one and a half miles to the northeast and overlooking the village of Reversano (M 5601) on the east bank of the Savio. The infantry could not reach their objective, however, and were halted two hundred yards short of it.

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