| Regiment | 10th Royal Berkshire |
|---|---|
| Location | K/LO 117, ITALY |
| Entry | 0257 C.O. went to Bde Tac H.Q. at KILO 109, & was told that I.L.S. will withdraw through Bn and go into reserve. 0330 "O" gps - Bn defensive layout co-ordinated 0606 Sitrep to Bde - Appendix J4 [see below] Bde O.O. No. 4 received - Bde will hold present defensive posns. 2000 Sitrep - Appendix J5 [see below] ________________________________________ Appendix J4 Date: 17/18.7.43 Rendered 0600 18/7/43 Sitrep 1: 2045: Bn left Bivouac Area. 2: 2155: Bn H.Q. arrived Assembly Area 9656 3: 2225: Bn H.Q. left Assembly Area 4: 2345: Bn H.Q. arrived at destination - Farm 949692. "D" Coy pushed fwd. On the right and, meeting no opposition, found a good position in cactus grove (949693). "C" Coy on left advanced behind 1st London Scottish, under indirect S.A. fire; and 14Pl on the rt. reported it was unable to advance as "A" coy of London Scottish was in the culvert. This coy then pushed through and occupied RED HOUSE (947704), where it was heavily mortared. London Scottish then withdrew through "C" Coy, who stabilised their position. In the meantime "A" and "B" Coys took up positions as per App.A M.G. Pl then arrived and took up posns. 5: From "D" Coy: 0136: "D" Coy heavily mortared: No casualties. 6: From "D" Coy: 0225: "D" Coy heavily mortared: No casualties. 7: 0250: Bn H.Q. moved to 949691 8: 0445: 10 Sherman Tks arrived, and took up hull down posn. in Bn area. 9: 0530: Brig. Visited Bn and ordered one pl. (9pl. "A" Coy) to take up Posn. 943699 to keep touch with L.I.R. who had been forced back from FOSSE BOTACETO, and whose right was now based on this point. 10: Throughout night Bn was in contact with RA, RE's and 4" Mor Pl of Bde Spt. Coy, but none of these were needed. __________________________________________ Appendix J5 0600 - 2000 18/7/43 SITREP 1: 0715: O.P. set up on haystack 949692 2: 0720: 'B' Coy ordered to send out fighting patrol to work round the rt. flank, to find a ? Route, and to ascertain whether the enemy was holding the wood 9569. This was in response to Maj. Davis request to be allowed to attack round the rt. flank. If however the enemy were met in force, the coy was to return. 3: 0800: 'C' Coy shelled by own Arty. 4: 0825: Brig. Visited Bn H.Q. and stated he would not allow 'B' Coy's attack to take place. 5: 0940: D.F. tasks fixed with P.C. 357 Bty 6: 1325: Brigadier visited Bn. 7: From 'C' Coy 1340: Heavy M.G. fire. 8: From 'B' Coy 1350: Patrol reports clear covered route to within about 200y of wood. They lay up for abt. 20 mins and observed no movement in wood. 9: From O.P. 1355: Shermans destroying small cover, haystacks etc. with tracer. 10: 1450: O Gp. Conference. Brigadier had given permission for B Coy's attack and it was decided to carry it out with the support of 3" mortars, M.M.G.'s Artillery and Tks, the latter firing at pillboxes on the edge of the wood. 11: From 'C' Coy 1608: Enemy shelling posns. 12: 1630: B Coy attacked, having moved to start line 200y south of wood via ditches. Int O.P. could observe enemy movement on edge of wood but 'B' Coy was unable to receive on the W/T set as it was first of all in the ditch, and later, when they advanced, they could not use full aerial owing to trees. The Coy advanced with 2 pl's fwd, and, apart from 2 Germans running away through the trees, no enemy were met until MASSA. ALDISIO 9570, which was occupied by the enemy and by civilians. A party was detailed to search the house, & the coy proceeded until it was level with the house at 956698. Here the coy came under extremely heavy M.G. fire, and the Coy commander, seeing that there was heavy fire coming from his front and both flanks ordered the coy to withdraw in accordance with his orders. The enemy however proved too strong. Lts KAYE, WALTER and WICKENS were all wounded, and Maj. DAW was last seen to be surrounded: the coy found itself for the most part unable to move. 13: 1745: B Coy C.S.M. with 36 O.R. of whom 13 were wounded arrived at Bn H.Q. 4 officers and 47 O.R. were missing. 14: Throughout the day: Int O.P. reported numerous enemy posns. On the BUND along the west edge of the wood from 942709 to 956698 15: Throughout the day: 'C' Coy, in a pronounced salient?? , were subjected to heavy M.G. fire from their front and rt. Flank, and also to mortar & arty fire (incl. 88 mm. Firing A.P. at the pillboxes) 16: 1815: One Sherman was knocked out by 88mm firing from approx 956699. |
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