Although it had been only for a relatively short while, it was a good feeling to be back with HQF Troop and Ballyrashane. Not quite so pleasant, was returning to "dine" again on M & V which, despite all the efforts of Corporal Stevenson and his staff to disguise it, was still M & V. I received quite an earful, when the crew of Ballyrashane found out that I had given away a Compo Box. My feeble excuse, that if I hadn't it would have to be returned to the QM's stores, was greeted with the contempt it so justly deserved. We were the Squadron Leader's crew after all!

No sooner had we settled in, orders came down that every AFV had to be checked down to the smallest detail. Those who thought, the amount of "spit and polish" employed getting the tanks ready for the Victory Parade in Tunis was the ultimate, were soon proven wrong. When the SSM came along to ask how things were going, the irrepressible Gordon Young, who was now part of Ballyrashane's crew, suggested that we should be given a supply of toothbrushes in order to do a better job. A day or so later, all became known when a team from the Vehicle Maintenance Inspection Board descended upon us. The only criticism levied against the condition of Ballyrashane was that the fresh-water tanks were empty. Once again Trooper Young had something to say, telling the inspector that "Stale water maketh a poor cup of tea!"

When it was realised that the Regiment would not be called on for about three weeks, leave to Rome was again established. Being too busy - installing 19-sets in the newly arrived Churchill Na75s et cetera - I was not able to revisit the Holy City. However, I twice was able to visit the ancient town of Terni, some eight miles upstream on the river Nera. The visits were made the more pleasurable by being able to enjoy the facilities of a Salvation Army canteen. I learnt while there, although at the time it seemed to be of just passing interest, that Saint Valentine was Terni's patron saint.

Shortly before the day came when we were to leave the harbour, Griff came over saying that he had something to show me. Arriving at his scout car I was more than surprised to see emblazoned on each side, inside 'B' Squadron's red square, the words Tac HQ. Of course, I was most curious to find out why!

We Return to the Hills

Whether the V.M.I.B.had given the Regiment's tanks a clean bill of health or not, about the middle of the month, they were loaded on transporters bound for Arezzo. Despite an early start, the going was slow enough to necessitate the convoy coming to a stop in the late afternoon. Our transporter had pulled in, just outside the small village of Passignano, right on the shores of Lago Trasimeno. The day was still hot, so it wasn't long before many were cooling off in the lake. As the village was deserted, the sight of lots of naked bodies swimming and splashing around in the water could not offend the sensitivities of any of the local populace.

Although there were only about thirty miles to go, the remaining journey took several hours as the convoy made its way up the narrow winding road to Arezzo sitting some 1,300 feet up. Several times, during the journey, we would dismount and walk alongside the transporters as they slowed down to one or two miles per hour.

Recognising that the final approach to Arezzo was too steep, we dismounted from transporters to harbour for the night. Early the following morning, it was off on a journey of some fifteen miles, to Bucine, a village on a tributary of the river Arno, at the threshold of Tuscany's Chianti wine district. When Major MacKean and Captain Sidebottom were abruptly summoned to a meeting at RHQ, it was correctly surmised that we were about to see more action.