The 10th Indian Division continued the drive on Budrio on the 18th and reached the vicinity of the Idice River, but a strong enemy counter-attack forced a slight withdrawal. Late in the evening, the New Zealand Division forced a crossing of the Gaiana River and advanced with the 9th New Zealand Brigade and the 43rd Indian Lorried Infantry Brigade, now attached to the XIII Corps, to the Quaderna River, southwest of Budrio. In bitter fighting all day on the 19th, the 10th Indian Division reached the Idice River and on the 20th established bridge-heads over the river; by the 21st the bridgeheads were enlarged to a depth of two miles. The New Zealand Division crossed the Quaderna on the 19th after a heavy fire fight and resistance continued to be very heavy on the 20th as the New Zealanders drove through Budrio itself to reach and cross the Idice River north of Budrio to a depth of one mile. The enemy fought stubbornly in the Budrio area on the 21st as the New Zealanders continued their drive through the enemy's Ghengis Kahn Line based on the Idice River in this area. In the evening, resistance weakened as the enemy stared a withdrawal, local contact was lost, and the New Zealand Division drove six miles northeast of Bologna. The Capture of Imola - April 9-21, 1945 There wasn't many British units in 10th Indian Division. Only infantry battalion at that time was 1st King's Own Royal Regiment. But there were some support units like 1st Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (MMG battalion) and four regiments of the Royal Artillery.
It was 20th Indian Brigade of 10th Indian Division that forced a bridgehead over Idice River. Crossing was carried by 2/3rd QAO Gurkha Rifles and 1/2nd Punjab Regiment supported by C Squadron 6th Royal Tank Regiment and elements of 1st Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. After 20th Indian Brigade secured the bridgehead, 25th Indian Brigade, with 1st King's Own Royal Regiment, passed through supported by two squadrons of 6th Royal Tank Regiment. Don't have any info about role and positions of the Royal Artillery units.
On the right of the New Zealanders, the remainder of Tenth Division now came into the picture. On the night of April 19th, 20th Brigade forced the Quaderno and took over the running from 10th Brigade. With 1/2 Punjabis on the right and 2/3 Gurkhas on the opposite flank, the Indians pressed ahead, mopping up scattered pockets of the enemy. On the afternoon of April 20th, advanced patrols reached the Idice , to be confronted with floodbanks thirty feet high, and to find the near bank covered by a wide irrigation ditch at the bottom of the slope. The position was held in force; and for the last time Tenth Division encountered Germans of the type they knew so well---fanatically brave fighters, skilled in battle, contemptuous of death. Contact had been broken with the New Zealanders, and neither air nor artillery support was on call. 1/2 Punjabis moved forward to storm the defences, and plunged into its bitterest fighting of the war. With great gallantry two platoons of Dogras of "D" Company reached the far bank. While mopping up a German who had already surrendered shot the only remaining officer. British armour arrived, but the tanks either bogged down in the irrigation ditch, or were destroyed by mines and enemy fire. Two platoons of "B" Company, rushing to the aid of the dwindling garrison on the west bank, lost twenty men in ten minutes. "A" Company was trapped against a belt of wire and pelted by machine-guns. Major Sharma fell dead; Subedar Sainchi Singh, in spite of dangerous wounds, led the company until he dropped unconscious. An Australian, Lieut. Lawrence, headed "B" Company in a desperate bayonet charge which destroyed the remaining enemy posts on the eastern bank. A South African artillery observation officer, Lieut. Spiro, took over command of "A" Company and at the same time continued to direct the fire of his guns. On the far bank the Dogras fought to the last man, ringed by implacable enemies who asked and gave no quarter. Seldom in this war have so many died by the steel; when found the Dogras lay in groups clutching their bloody bayonets. This ferocious fighting marked the end of organized resistance on the front of Thirteenth Corps. When morning broke any Germans who survived were gone. The remainder of 1/2 Punjabis crossed the Idice without opposition. 3/5 Mahrattas and 2/3 Gurkhas with Skinners' Horse in the van, thrust into the north-east. It was a notable day everywhere. The Poles were entering Bologna and on the right the advanced screens of Fifth and Thirteenth Corps had reached the Po. The Tiger Triumphs. The Story of Three Great Divisions in Italy. 1946. Chapters 20-21.
