The road to Faenza
On September 18th when my Grandfather’s service record documents him joining 7th Armoured Brigade in Italy, this unit had been in action for about 3 weeks as part of Operation Olive. This was the Allied forces Autumn drive to break the German Gothic Line. The offensive commenced on the night 25th August when 8th Army’s forces were stationed on an axis centered on the Metauro river.
7th Armoured was part of V corps for the duration of the offensive and was under the command of 56th division . The main offensive power of the brigade was provided by its 4 tank regiments (RTR) : 2nd , 6th, 8th and 7th Hussars .
By the final week of the month the Brigade had already advanced around 20 miles from its start line at the commencement of the offensive to an area East of San Marino. If he had been dispatched straight to the front line he would have found himself not far away from the North East tip of the tiny republic. On the 18th 8 RTR and 2 RTR were fighting at Cerasolo near a feature called Monte Arboreta and around the Ceriano ridge.
Not all the tank regiments were fighting with the core unit. At this time 6RTR were a little to the South supporting the 1/9th Gurkhas of 4th Indian Division in their attempt of expanding the Marano river bridgehead in the Faetano area.
The official history states that operation Olive ended on the 21st September when the Marecchia river was crossed. The fighting continued however . On the 1st October 6 RTR was still supporting the 4th Indian Division around Borghi , having crossed the next river , the Uso . Around this time 2 RTR was placed under the command of 43rd Gurkha Brigade who had the task of crossing the Fiumicino river to capture a place called Gatteo. Not long after this time 7th Armoured was withdrawn from the line to Porto Recanati for refitting after weeks of heavy fighting and losses.
The original objectives for operation Olive were never met . Tough German opposition combined with heavy Autumn rain with all the problems of traversing the resultant mud and mire had slowed the allied advance . The Gothic line was pierced but not broken completely. With Grandad joining 7th Armoured so late in the operations , just before the unit’s withdrawal for refit I suspect he took very little part in the September battles? It seems more likely he would have joined the Brigade proper while it was in Porto Recanati, or just after when it rejoined the fighting?
Still stored away in his old wallet is a picture of Grandad dated 6th November’44, walking down a street in Rome with mates. Was he in transit to the Brigade after spending a month or so in some corps replacement unit? Or just on leave away from the Brigade during its time refitting having already joined ? Unfortunately I’ll never really be able to know for certain?
If he had travelled back from Rome in mid November to be with the unit he would have found that the battle had moved North of San Marino. Rimini on the coast had been in Allied hands since the end of September. To the North West the sizable town of Cesena on highway 9 was secure by the last quarter of October. The plan now was to continue the advance along this route , up the coastal plain to Ravenna and inland to Bologna.
It is at this time during all the rain, filth and fighting that I believe Grandad most likely joined the 7th Armoured and combat action . Somewhere on the drive up highway 9 to a place called Faenza. I’d really like to say for certain he was close to San Marino at the end September? However the picture of him in Rome makes this timeline problematic. November and the battle for Faenza is the more likely.
On the road to Faenza is the town of Forli with the Montone river forming an arc around its northern boundary . Forli was taken by 9th November, with allied forces close to Faenza on the next river the Lamone on highway 9 by 26th .The North East course of the Montone formed another barrier to cross and it is here that I believe 6 RTR supported elements of the 10th and 20th Indian Brigades in their successful drive to reach the Lamone around 2nd December. At the time the approaches to Faenza were being cleared 7th Armoured is recorded as being at Villa Franca North of Forli on the Montone.
On 15th December New Zealand and Indian troops supported by tanks from 4th New Zealand and 7th Armoured brigades launched their attacks from the Lamone bridgeheads with New Zealand forces entering the town on the 16th . The drive continued up to the river Senio just outside the town’s suburbs . It was on this river that the 8th Army was to be stationed for the duration of the next 4 months. Faenza was to become the 7th Armoured Brigade’s winter home. I’m quite certain that if Grandad did not spend Christmas in this town he was somewhere very close.
What next?
When I finally do get the chance to travel to Italy I will start on the Adriatic coast, perhaps Porto Recanati? A trip North hugging the sea will take me past San Marino and Rimini. Then onwards to Faenza. Of course the city of Ravenna is not far away and will be well worth a diversionary visit. No doubt the current Covid situation will have to be resolved before committing fully to any plan . Outwith that there is the choice to be made for my preferred means of transport – car or motorbike? So hopefully next year I’ll be on the road, free to explore. Better brush up on my Italian in the meantime. I’ll need at least to be able to order pizza and beer for the duration.
