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.