The Indian 17 Infantry Bgde, forced a crossing of the River Santerno from Ca-di-Lugo and S. Lorenzo, using the 1/5 R Gurkha Rifles right, and the 1/12 Frontier Force Reg. left, with a gap of 1200 yards between them to avoid a minefield. The 38 Irish Bgde then passed through the 1/5 Gurkha Rifles bridgehead before sriking north to bounce the Fiume Reno. I have been unable to get a picture of the 'Fascine and Ark, Thayman' crossing erected in the 1/5 bridgehead, so have copied one from the 78 Divs history, which depicts Infantry crossing the Santerno. This could be Bailey bridge Pellhan in the 1/12 bridgehead. This was completed after 'Thayman', where tanks crossed and stalled a German counter attack, with some tanks moving south down the road to relieve pressure and allow the completion of the Bailey bridge. The now pictures was taken at the 'Ark' site. Is this building, located on the opposite side of the road to the bridge site, close to C.Ricci-Garbastra, a survivor from that time? Further evidence from that time, here on the axis of the 2 R. Innisk Fus. attack, just before reaching report line 'Joan'. Again on a tower at V.la.Bellaria, by S. Bernadino During the Argenta Gap operation, 'D' Coy, 2 Innsik's advanced west, north of the town to cut route 16 at S. Antonio. The building in the foreground is very close to,and may even have been the Bn's Hq at Antonio, as the Bn moved north. 'B' Coy then moved up the road, in conjunction with the Commando's, operating west of the river and bank, to secure Tomba. As they did so, they fell against an developing enemy counter attack. During this time, as ammuntion was running short, "The coy was reaching the stage of firing varey lights and 2" smoke at the enemy...(and) the ammusing sight was seen of the Innsiks pulling rounds out og M.G. belts and feeding them into their Brens and rifles." (Bn war diary) Following arty intervention,the coy carried their advance to Tombetta. Argenta War Cemetry
Thanks for posting those photo. I do like these threads about not so well known Italian battlefields. :mxflag[1]:
James, Really excellent photos there.. As a number of our friends here will personally testify, it was quite a remarkable period that culminated in the complete and utter destruction of all German forces in the field and as Lieut General Graf von Schewrin aptly commented "You will find them (ie his forces) south of the Po". I attach below a few more details about the Skins' advances in April 1945: And thank you too for the posting of photos of the Argenta Gap CWGC cemetery where a number of my Dad's comrades in the LIR, Skins and Faughs lie at peace - one of my Mum and Dad's Corpus Christi, Brixton school pals Sgt Nelson Smallbone is there also. I shall try to get up there again during the 70th anniversary period. best
