World War Two - Part 6
Arezzo, Florence, Sansepolcro, Gothic Line, Coriano, Croce, Ceriano 1944
By the middle of July the Germans were conducting an orderly and slow withdrawal in their own time, fighting rearguard actions and making skilled use of the mountains, extensive demolition's and minefields. The King's Dragoon Guards were back in the line at Arezzo on 16 July. Patrolling commenced in an area where the roads were blocked by fallen trees, blown bridges and many mines, and there were constant brushes with the enemy and casualties inflicted. The German artillery was particularly active, shelling any movement - when Lieutenant Bloomfield ditched his Daimler, 121 shells landed around it with in an hour, 'B' Squadron entered the village of San Polo on the morning of the 18th to find that the day before the Germans withdrew they had taken all the men of the village, except the parish priest, to a nearby olive grove, made them dig three large graves, and had then bayoneted the men into the graves and placed a number of explosive charges among the dead and dying. This was said to be punishment for partisan activity.
Sergeant Beale of 'C' Squadron led a patrol as far as Monte Veriano, to find the area held in strength by the Germans, but with no anti-tank guns. He then allotted each vehicle a sector and drove right in amongst the enemy. Corporal Kay in the leading Dingo leapt out hurling grenades into each trench and firing his tommy-gun until it was shot out of his hand; he then went back for a Bren and started again. The Germans managed to knock out a supporting M10 with an Ofenrohor, killing the driver. With only a single casualty Sergeant Beale captured the position, taking two officers and twelve men prisoner and counting thirty dead Germans, twenty of whom had been accounted for by Coropral Kay alone. Both Sergeant Beale and Corporal Kay were given an immediate award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
King George VI paid a visit to the KDG at Arezzo on 25 July, the same day that a Daimler received a direct hit from a 105 mm shell, wounding the crew slightly. On the 27th Lieutenant Napper was killed by a shell when out on an observation post. By 3 August 'A' Squadron had advanced to Monte Ferrato, where a patrol under Lieutenant Howes attacked a strongly defended German Company position, killing two Germans and capturing eight more. The patrol was then heavily shelled: Corporal Biddell was killed, and Sergeant Barratt and Corporals Marks and Long were wounded, Long later dying of his wounds. Corporal Marks was awarded the MM for his leadership. That day Trooper Cook of 'B' Squadron was wounded by a shell. On 5th August the KDG went into reserve until the 11th, when the regiment moved to the area around Florence.
At first the regiment's role was to act as a mobile reserve to the infantry units closing up to Florence, but that soon changed when 'D' Squadron was ordered into the city to support the 8th Indian Infantry Brigade and the Italian partisans. The Germans had blown all the bridges over the River Arno with the exception of the Ponte Vecchio, where they had blown down the houses on each side of the streets approaching the bridge. 'D' Sqn. managed to get Lt. Mann and his troop across the Arno via a weir, made just passable by the Engineers. The other squadrons patrolled actively both on foot and, where possible, in cars, and on 14th August Trooper Bailey was killed and Cpl Taggart and Troopers Naisbitt and Gard were wounded when caught by mortar barrage.
Within Florence Mann set up his headquarters over a bar in the Piazza Vittorio Emmanuele, where he was to support the Indians and partisans who were clearing the city. When the Engineers building a bailey bridge across the Arno at the Ponte Trinita were being harassed by sniper fire from Fascists elements, Mann's troop was called out and Cpl. Ingleby with a snap shot killed the sniper, who was at an upstairs window. After a few days Lt. Woozley's troop was brought into the city to reinforce Mann. By day both sides strove to maintain the illusion that the city was not to be fought over, and civilians thronged the streets, but by night the German Parachute troops and their Fascist allies infiltrated back and Mann was twice called out to repel attacks. On 17 August Woozely led out a strong force of armoured cars and infantry, which successfully cleared the enemy from the northeastern part of the city. The following day Woozely led an advance with infantry to San Domenico on the road to Fiesole, but ran into stiff opposition. After a fierce fight he managed to withdraw without casualties.
On 20 August the KDG were drawn back into reserve by Lake Trasimene, where 'D' Squadron received its fifth squadron leader, Major Phillips, since it had been formed just five months previously. On the 26th the regiment was back in action, taking over from the 12th Lancers in the area of Sansepolcro. The Allies were now edging up to the Gothic Line. On 27 August a patrol of 'C' Squadron was ambushed, losing a Dingo with Lieutenant Hethey and Coproral Price killed and Trooper Burton a prisoner. The following day 'C' lost two more Dingos on mines, with Corporal Eckersley and Trooper Shakespeare wounded and Trooper Chambers dying of his wounds. Another of their patrols drove off a party of fifteen Germans, killing two of them. The 31st saw Major Hellyer and Captain Batt badly wounded when the White scout car in which they were traveling went over a mine and the armoured engine cover was blown off to land on their heads. Another 'C' Squadron patrol had a brush with the enemy in which one German was killed and Trooper Maynihan was wounded. Often the mines had been laid so deeply that several vehicles could go over them before enough pressure was built up to set them off. This made them impossible to detect.
The KDG used Sansepolcro as a base, patrolling well forward in the mountainous country over a large area of no man's land, with the enemy operating in mush the same way. Again the KDG horse troop came into its own. 'D' Squadron sent a strong patrol comprising Lieutenant Woozley's and Mann's troops to establish a patrol base two miles further forward. The patrol soon encountered and cleared a dug-in German position after a short fire fight, in which one German was severely wounded and taken prisoner. A base was then established, from which Mann took a patrol forward to the Alpe della Luna to observe the German positions, then brought artillery fire down on them. On 1 September another patrol of five men ran into a German post, capturing one, but losing Sergeant Boruhill killed and Corporal Cameron taken prisoner. On 5 September Sergeant Redfearn of 'B' stalked and captured an enemy observation post, and the following day a patrol ran into a minefield, which severely wounded Sergeants Mercer and Mitchell and slightly wounded Corporal Miller and four others. When not on patrol all ranks enjoyed the comfort of Sansepolcro. As the Engineers slowly mended bridges and cleared roads the regiment pushed forward, and by the 13th the Passo di Viamaggio on the road from Sansepolcro to Rimini had been reached. On the 14th a foot patrol pressing on ran into an ambush, losing Trooper Whitlock killed and Sergeant Gutteridge and Corporal Waters captured. Patrolling involving a number of brushes with the enemy continued until the 24th, and then on 25 September the KDG were withdrawn into reserve.
The Queen's Bays moved out of the camp in Southern Italy on 6 August 1944 and moved north with the rest of 1st Armoured Division, concentrating around Civita Nova on the Adriatic coast, about twenty miles south of Ancona. Here they were issued with twelve of the new 76 mm Shermans. The infantry attack to pierce the Gothic Line started well on 27 August, with the Germans being pushed back from the Metauro to the River Foglia; by 1 September they were back on the line of the Conca. As the pressure on the enemy continued, Lieutenant Colonel Asquith was ordered to secure crossings over the Marano, the next river beyond the Conca, by first light on 5 September. A company of the 1st KRRC with the 10th Hussars moved onto the San Clemente ridge between the Conca and the Marano and reported that, Contrary to the information given to the Bays, the ground to the west, including Coriano, San Savion and Croce, was still strongly held by the enemy.
With 'A' Squadron on the right and 'C' on the left, the Bays started their attack at 3 p.m., but traffic congestion on the approach roads delayed 'C', who had no time to gather themselves before they were launched. Four tanks were immediately hit by anti-tank fire from Gemmano on the left and from Croce to the front. Before the start line was even reached, the rear-link tank had been knocked out, cutting off communications with RHQ; then three more tanks were lost, but the two leading troops managed to move up just short of the start line, where they took up positions under the squadron second in command, Captain McVail. Major Hibbert, the squadron leader, was to the north with two more tanks. Here 'C' Squaron was attacked by bazookas and came under shell fire; sergeant Jones and Trooper Edwards were killed and their tank was knocked out. With no cover, and now in the lead, Major Hibbert did the only possible thing, taking squadron headquarters forward into the centre of the German position. One German tank was knocked out before the tanks of squadron headquarters suffered the same fate. Major Hibbert and Captain McVail with their crews managed to take refuge in a German dug-out, where after a series of hair-raising adventures they made their way back to their own lines, arriving two days later. Captain Conway, the medical officer, went forward to the assistance of 'C' Squadron and was wounded. The colonel then managed to make contact with Lieutenant Ward of 'C', and as a result ordered 'A' Squadron to go to their assistance. In trying to do so 'A' lost a number of Shermans through the tracks coming off on the steep and slippery hillside.
As night came on, the Bays drew back into leaguer, reduced to only eighteen tanks, although many were later recovered. During the night shelling killed one man and wounded four others. 'A' Squadron had lost three men wounded, Corporal Turner later dying of his wounds, and five men missing, as well as those killed. As a result of the tank losses the rest of the regiment was formed into a composite squadron under Major Weld. Prisoners that had been taken came from the 26th Panzer Division and the 29th Panzer Grenadier Division, and the Germans had also brought the 1st Parachute Division to help hold the Coriano Position.
Just before daylight on 5 September the composite squadron moved back to positions below the crest line, where they remained throughout the day, at nightfall leaguring in the divisional gun lines near San Clemente. Even though the regiment was not called into action for some days, Lieutenant Butcher, Corporal Jones, the CO's driver, and Trooper Peacock were killed by shellfire, and Sergeant Foster with Troopers Taylor and Maylin were wounded. 'C' Squadron was re-formed with new tanks on the 7th, but German resistance was so fierce along the Coriano ridge that the infantry made only little headway. The Bays were not back in action until the 13th, when they supported the 43rd Gurkha Lorried Infantry Brigade in an assault on the San Savion - Passano ridge. It was a difficult night approach march, with the Shermans towing the Gurkhas anti-tank guns and the Gurkhas crews riding on the back of the tanks.
The initial objectives were gained by the 8th and 10th Gurkhas with 'B' and 'C' Squadrons in support. As 'B' moved forward into Castelleale it was greeted by a barrage of mortar shells and the discovery that the engineer bridging tank, by which the squadron was to cross the Marano, was not in place; as a result the squadron had to turn round and follow 'C' Squadron at its crossing point. The leading tank was hit, Lieutenant Gay being wounded, with the Gurkhas on its back all killed and the towed gun destroyed. Then Major Weld's tank turned over, blocking the way. Eventually Sergeant Jordan guided the tanks on foot and the Marano was crossed just before first light. But 'B' Squadron then had to drive as fast as possible to cross over to their position to the left of 'C', and in so doing Sergeant Birch's Honey and Sergeant Southam's Sherman were blown up. On their arrival on the San Savino - Passano ridge an enemy counter-attack was dealt with by Sergeant Burton's Browning machine gun, and the squadrons put their tanks into good hull-down positions. As the hot day wore on, 'A' Squadron and RHQ moved up in support and all squadrons were subjected to mortar bombardment and shellfire; Lieutenants Yates and Williams, Sergeant Spence, Corporal Andrew and Troopers Swain and Chapman were all wounded. The 9th Lancers then carried out the second phase of the attack by supporting the 18th Infantry Brigade in its advance to the Ripabianca feature, with 'A' Squadron moving up to give the advancing 9th Lancer tanks fire cover, and in so doing brewing up two of the enemy's armour. The day's fighting had resulted in the capture of a very strong position and nearly a thousand prisoners from some of the best German divisions.
From 14 to 18 September The Queen's Bays rested, taking in reinforcements and new tanks. On the 19th 'A' Sqn. supported the Yorkshire Dragoons in seizing a small hill across the River Ausa, with the rest of the regiment moving up two miles to the east. That afternoon the Bays moved forward with the 1st KRRC to attack high ground across the Ausa between San Marino and Ceriano, and were rejoined by 'A' Sqn., who were low on petrol. The going across deep wadis was very slow and by nightfall Colonel Asquith decided to close up and halt the regiment until the morning.
At 3 a.m. on 20 September The Queen's Bays moved off to attack the Ceriano ridge, and before first light a Honey of the reconnaissance troop was knocked out by a bazooka close to the start line. As dawn broke, Ceriano to the left rear and Point 153 above San Martino i Venti to the right could be seen overlooking the advance. It soon became clear that the high ground around Ceriano was still held by the enemy, and some passing infantry confirmed that they themselves had been driven off it during the night. 'A' Troop of 'B' Squadron moved up the Ceriano feature with guns blazing, demolishing each building as they advanced, but they came under anti-tank fire from Point 153 on their right and all three tanks were knocked out, with only Sergeant Burley's tank reaching the top of the hill.
The crews baled out, making their way back to the squadron. 'C' Squadron then moved forward onto the crest to engage the anti-tank guns, but every time a tank moved from its hull down position it came under accurate sniper and machine gun fire from close quarters. At the same time the whole regiment was subjected to heavy shellfire, which killed Lieutenant Bunn. With 'A' Squadron short of ammunition and petrol, and the casualties already suffered, Colonel Asquith suggested that an immediate attack against such opposition was unlikely to succeed. The brigadier insisted that the attack must go in at once.
With 'C' Squadron leading, followed by the four remaining tanks of 'B', the Bays came under a storm of 75 mm and 88 mm anti-tank fire from a series of different enemy positions as soon as they emerged onto the forward slope. Tanks were hit at once. There was no cover and when 'C' asked for permission to withdraw, it was told to hold on. It then became clear that the tanks were sitting ducks on a forward slope that was devoid of any cover, and smoke was put down to enable them to withdraw. Only three thanks of 'B' Squadron returned. As each tank was knocked out, the crew baled out, but those who tried to get back came under sniper and machine gun fire at very short range from houses still occupied by the Germans. There were many casualties; only those who lay low during daylight had a chance of survival.
The 9th Lancers came up to renew the attack, but when the situation was made clear by Colonel Asquith, the advance was called off, the remnants of the Bays withdrawing to the area of the previous nights leaguer. The morning's fighting had cost the Bays Captains McVail and Parker, Lieutenants Ward and Franklin killed, with Captain Rowland and Lt. Grey creeping back after dark. Five officers and eighteen other ranks had been killed, thirty-nine other ranks were wounded, and two men were missing-a total of sixty-four trained tank crewmen as casualties, of which thirty-nine came from 'C' Sqn. Lt. Gay was awarded the Military Cross and Sergeant Burley the Distinguished Conduct Medal. The one consolation for this miserable day was that the Bays' attack had enabled the Canadians on their right to take San Fortunato, and as a result Rimini was entered that night, with the Gurhkas occupying Point 153. Then the heavens opened and the rain continued, bringing the movement of vehicles to a halt; but even so the Gurkha brigade on the night of the 22nd advanced 8,000 yards, fighting their way across the Marecchia and capturing Santarcangelo. The forcing of the Gothic Line had cost the Eighth Army 14,000 casualties, and there were no longer the reinforcements to replace such losses. As a result 1st Armoured Division was broken up, and 2nd Armoured Brigade became an independent brigade.
The Queen's Bays were given ten days to absorb reinforcements, most of whom came from the disbanded Wiltshire Yeomanry, who were excellent material, being trained and battle-experienced soldiers. During the Gothic Line battles the Bays had lost five officers, three sergeants and fifteen other ranks killed; one sergeant and four other ranks missing;six officers, four sergeants and fifty other ranks wounded. Three new officers and twelve other ranks arrived on 18 September followed by sixty-three more reinforcements a few days later. New tanks arrived on the basis of one 76mm and two 75mm Shermans per troop, so that by 1 October1944 the regiment was again ready for action, moving up to support 138th Infantry Brigade of 46th Division.
On 1st October the Italian Weather again intervened and torrential storms rendered the ground and rivers impassable to armour. By the 8th 'B' Squadron managed to cross the Marecchia and Uso, and then the Fiumicino, placing a troop in support of each battalion of 139 Brigade, with a fourth troop moving over to Cento to give support to 10th Indian Division. By the 11th Longiano was captured, and Captain MacCallan with two troops supported the 6th York and Lancasters in a successful, but fierce, battle for the Montiano ridge. On the night of the 12th 'B' Squadron, now concentrated at Montiano, supported the 2/4th KOYLI as they crossed the Rubicon, capturing Casale. On the 13th the 2/4th KOYLI and the 6th Lincolns captured Carpinetta under covering fire from 'B' Squadron. The following day 'B' crossed the Rubicon to support the advancing infantry, but were unable to get beyond Casale owing to demolitions and craters. On the evening of the 14th 'A' Squadron under Major Harman moved up to reach Casale, followed by 'C'.
By the morning of 15 October the Engineers had cleared the way sufficiently for 'B' Squadron to support the 6th Lincolns as the attacked Scuole. However, Lieutenant Cassidy's tank ditched on the way forward, so he changed with Sergeant Glastonbury, the two remaining Shermans of his troop reaching the start line at Casa Almerici.
The divisional commander now ordered Cassidy to advance to Celincordia without the infantry, but supported by Brooks. Neither of the Browning machine guns on Cassidy's two tanks was working properly and there were only four rounds of high explosive remaining. Sergeant Southam was leading when, rounding a corner, his tank slipped off the road down a bank. Trooper Webster managed to crawl back after dark, but Southam and the rest of the crew were taken prisoner. Cassidy was then ordered to withdraw but, while reversing, his tank was hit by high explosive and armour-piercing shells. The crew baled out and got back in spite of intense machine gun fire. Then the tank was hit again, bursting into flames. The Germans now counter-attacked, gaining ground on both flanks of Monte Romano, so that Brooks's troop, reinforced by Sergeant Bruton's tank, came under fire from three sides. The Bays and the Lincolns held onto their isolated spur until nightfall, when the 2/5th Leicesters of 139 Brigade relieved the Lincolns and 'A' Squadron took over from 'B'. On 16 October Major Harman arranged for 'A' Squadron to support the Leicester in their advance on Celincordia, but they, while clearing a part of Monte Romano, had been driven back by a counter-attack. As Lieutenant Munro advanced in support, the Germans put an armour-piercing shot into the remains of Cassidy's tank just twenty yards in front of him, and so the attack was put off until after dark. During the night the Leicesters cleared Monte Romano, Munro's tanks helping with the last pockets of resistance. On the 17th 'A' Squadron gave supporting fire as the Leicesters pushed forward, 'C' Squadron helping the 5th Sherwood Foresters around Buratini. On the 18th 'A' Squadron leapfrogged forward troop by troop as the Leicester advanced, and Celincordia was captured by 4 p.m., Corporal Harvey playing a prominent part in the final assault. On the right 'C' Squadron helped the Foresters forward to Cesena, where the Germans still held out stubbornly in the outskirts of the town. The Bays were now relieved by the 10th Hussars and withdrew to Montalbano for a short rest. An entry in the War Diary of 46th Division recorded: 'A satisfactory feature of the present battle had been the effectiveness of tank and infantry co-operation.' Another satisfactory feature from the Bays' point of view had been the comparative scarcity of casualties. The Bays remained at Montalbano until 7 November, the whole regiment being under cover for the first time in Italy - even if the houses were dirty, leaking and overcrowded. By the time the Bays moved back into the line, again in support of 46th Division, the advance had moved some ten miles further forward and the fighting was now in the foothills between the Rabbi and Ronco rivers.
Sergeant Southam's tank led with the infantry, Cassidy giving supporting fire. Scuole was cleared house by house, and the ridge beyond occupied. The next objective was Monte Romano, which the infantry gained with supporting fire from the Shermans. Cassidy's two tanks then moved forward to deal with some houses beyond, where the Germans were collecting for a counterattack. As the tanks approached enemy soldiers emerged from slit trenches surrendering, but by now the infantry was fully occupied with other pockets of resistance, and Cassidy moved back to help. In the afternoon Lieutenant Hough came up in support, but his troop ran into heavy shellfire which wounded him and Sergeant Shaylor. Lieutenant Brooks's troop was then sent to relieve Cassidy, and on the way up he was able to help another company of the Lincolns forward. On the right 'C' Squadron assisted the Lincolns in capturing Monte Buratini, but to the left 10th Indian Division was held up in the steep hills east of the Savio, from whence came most of the defensive fire that still swept Monte Romano, to which the enemy were still clinging, the last obstacle before Cesena.
