The Sicilian Campaign

The next step after driving the Axis out of Africa was the invasion of Italy, for which naval, military and air preparations were at once commenced. By this time the Italian Navy had been practically eliminated and the planned bombing of Italian ports, arsenals and communications had proceeded as far as our air strength permitted, but an increasing number of Luftwaffe squadrons had been sent from Germany to support the Italians.

It was decided to occupy Sicily first, and the original landing there took place on 10th July, 1943. No part of the Regiment took part in the Sicilian campaign, which was completed in August, or in the subsequent landing operations on the Italian coast.

Invasion of Italy

General Alexander had at his disposal the Eighth Army under General Montgomery and the Fifth American Army. There were fifteen German divisions in Italy. On 3rd September the Eighth Army began its landing in the Straits of Messina and pushed on to join hands with the Fifth Army, which landed at Salerno, 200 miles farther north, on 9th September. The Eighth Army then advanced up the east coast, the Fifth up the west.

The Italian people welcomed the Allied troops. Mussolini fled to his German friends (he was subsequently murdered in Milan). The Italian Government concluded an armistice, but the German Army took control and put up a stout resistance.

The Allies entered Rome on 4th June, 1944, and the advance continued, but owing to troops being withdrawn to prepare for the invasion of France progress was slow and the final campaign which drove the Axis out of Italy did not take place until April, 1945, ten months later, after heavy fighting all the way.

On 8th May, 1945, the Germans surrendered and the war was over.

The Regiment in Italy

The 11th Battalion, now commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel C. d'A. P. Consett, arrived in Italy on 22nd October, 1943, from North Africa, and joined the 2nd Armoured Brigade on the west coast.

Operations were conducted in rain, snow and mud. After many weeks of patrolling and minor operations, this Battalion helped in the crossing of the Garigliano River at the beginning of January, after which they moved to the east coast and earned high credit for the skill and energy they displayed while holding a wide sector on this front in the Maiella Mountains during the months of March and April, while the advance on Rome was taking shape to the west. The standard this Battalion set in patrolling and sniping had a great effect on enemy morale at this time. Heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy.

At the end of May, 1944, after eight months of almost continuous service in the line in arduous conditions, the Battalion was withdrawn to Egypt, where it remained until sent to Greece in October.

The 2nd Battalion remained near Tripoli when the 4th Armoured Brigade went to Sicily, but rejoined the Brigade in October, 1943, for its advance up the east coast of Italy. The Battalion's task was protecting the tanks in their movement through the olive groves and other close country. The terrain in the line of advance on the east coast was almost as unsuitable for motor-battalion vehicles as it was for tanks and operations were almost entirely on foot.

The crossing of the Sangro River was the last action in which the 2nd Battalion took part before returning to England in February, 1944, to prepare for the coming invasion of France.

The 1st Battalion had been training in Algeria since the victory in Tunisia in May, 1943, Lieutenant-Colonel E. A. Williams having taken over command.

On 27th May, 1944, the Battalion landed at Naples as part of the 1st Armoured Division. After a spell on the east coast the Battalion marched rapidly northwards to join the Eighth Army, which was at that time just north of Perugia.

After six weeks' operations with the 9th Armoured Brigade, orders were received to return to the 1st Armoured Division near Ancona for the coming battle for the Gothic Line.

Battle of the Gothic Line, September to October 1944

At the end of September the attack on the Gothic Line, a fortified line held by the enemy across Italy, commenced. For three weeks the 1st Battalion was almost continually in action, sometimes with companies out to armoured brigades, sometimes (as for the crossing of the Marino and Ausa Rivers) fighting as a battalion. Torrential rain which started on 20th September turned the battleground into a quagmire. The enemy yielded ground slowly and retired fighting.

During October the Marrechio, the Uso (better known as the Rubicon) and the Savio were the principal rivers crossed.

Serious losses were incurred in the crossing of the Ronco River on 25th/26th October. The best part of three companies had crossed in the evening, without their anti-tank guns, when the Germans counter-attacked with tanks and drove them back on the river, which at that moment came down in heavy flood and was impassable. After a gallant defence and heavy casualties the companies were overrun. The losses totalled 7 officers and 108 other ranks. Only one officer succeeded in swimming back across the river.

After three weeks' rest the Battalion was again in action and assisted in the crossing of the Losna, Marenzo and Laurne Rivers and the capture of Pedaura.

During these operations Brigadier G. H. G. Smith-Dorrien, D.S.O., was killed in action commanding an infantry brigade. He had commanded a motor battalion of The Buffs in the Desert War.

The Winter Line 1944-45

During January and February, 1945, the Battalion was in position at Mezzano, where they constructed and held a fortified Winter Line, where harassing and patrol activities in bitter winter conditions played a prominent part.

Lieutenant-Colonel J. C. Hope, D.S.O., M.C., succeeded Lieutenant-Colonel Williams in command at the beginning of March.

March and the first half of April saw the 1st Battalion training, reorganizing and planning for the final offensive in Italy with the 2nd and 7th Battalions of The Rifle Brigade as part of the 61st Infantry Brigade (Brigadier A. Gore, Rifle Brigade). All these battalions were organized as lorried infantry battalions.

The Final Offensive, 19th April to 2nd May

For the final offensive the Battalion was grouped with the 16th/ 5th Lancers and fought without respite in the battles around Mirabella, which cut off Bologna from the north. On 23rd April Lieutenant-Colonel J. C. Hope was killed and Major B. Howard took command.

On 27th April the enemy fled and the pursuit began. The 1st Battalion crossed the Po on the 28th and the Adige on 29th April, and passed through Padua and Treviso to Udine, gathering thousands of prisoners. On 2nd May the German surrender in Italy was announced. On that day the Battalion entered Austria.