Page Forty-five

8. Although the infantry had been able to get their mortars across the river, they had not been able to get anti-tank guns over, and the Churchills of ‘A’ and ‘C’ Squadron therefore remained in close support of the infantry throughout the night in a counter-attack role. The tank crews were constantly at the alert but no heavy counter-attacks developed. The total of prisoners during the days fighting had risen to one hundred.

9. During the evening the Stuart tanks attempted to ferry the much needed supplies across to the tanks. The crossing was under constant shellfire and the light tanks spent some uncomfortable moments there. By 2210 hours some three hundred gallons of petrol had been taken over by this means when it was decided that the remainder would have to be ferried across by boat, and a further four hundred gallons were taken over by this method. A dump was established on the west bank from which the tanks replenished, moving back one at a time and then returning to their infantry.

10. No change took place in the tactical situation during the night and at first light reports were received that the bridging situation was far from satisfactory. The Royal Engineers had not been able to get the Bailey bridge across as shelling had been to considerable, and on top of this the centre Ark had developed a fifteen degree list, and for the time being the only means of communication with the bridgehead apart from wireless was by boat across the fairly fast flowing river.

11. At 0630 hours ‘C’ Squadron could hear the movement of enemy tanks on their front but could not locate them. Heavy fighting took place in the area of the road junction 562074 before the enemy retired to a strong point which he had established to the south west of this junction. At 0720 hours ‘A’ Squadron on the left located a Panther tank at 579077 and called for artillery fire upon it. At 1040 hours the infantry again reported Panthers in the same area and also at 586066 and 581073, all of which were engaged by the artillery who were on call. During the morning one tank of the Squadron was knocked out by a Panther, three of the crew being killed and the other two wounded. ‘C’ Squadron also reported one man wounded by sniping. The wounded men were carried back across the river and evacuated through infantry channels.

12 At midday 22 October ‘C’ Squadron reported very heavy shelling and house to house fighting still in progress. Each Squadron now had only five tanks each fit, and it was very difficult to carry out repairs or maintenance under the circumstances. At 1320 hours fighting was reported to be going on against enemy tanks, with two of our own hit but not knocked out. Hits were observed on the enemy tanks but results not known. Heavy fighting continued throughout 22 October with casualties heavy on both sides, but although gains were made it was still not possible in view of the bridging situation, to pass the 10th Infantry Brigade and the 51st Royal Tanks through the bridgehead to continue the advance. It was hoped, however, to establish a Class II and Class V bridge across the river during the night 22/23 October to supply the units within the bridgehead.

13. During the afternoon ‘B’ Squadron of the 142nd Regiment Royal Armoured Corps moved forward to Cesena, harbouring at 611067 preparatory to crossing the river and relieving ‘A’ Squadron. A reconnaissance party was sent out to recce crossing over the river between points 577050 and. 584056 on the west bank and. between 584052 and 584056 on the east bank, the intention being for the tanks to cross the river at first light on 23 October, between these points and then swing north to join the infantry in the bridgehead. The recce however, produced negative results and it was decided that the Royal Engineers should make the Ark crossing fit again to take the tanks. Nightfall once more brought hazardous work for the personnel of the echelons who were keeping the vital supply line open. Supplies were brought to the east bank by White Scout Car and ferried across by boat. This carried out under the fire of the enemy, and tended to dampen the visions of drifting lazily through the canals of Venice.

14. The infantry had pushed the line forward during the day and the last light positions were, on the right the 6th Black Watch at 584070 -582082; in the centre the 2nd Royal Fusiliers 585063 - 82062; on the left 579062 - 89067, and the tanks once more remained in close support of the infantry throughout the night. Enemy shelling decreased slightly until 0400 hours 23 October when it increased in intensity and continued so until 0900 hours when it once more abated. By morning the Engineers had built a Class II raft bridge across the river, but no progress had been made on the Bailey bridge although material had been dumped at the edge for operations on its construction during the night 23/24 October.

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