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.

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