River of Blood MTO (id:#58202)

Lone Canuck Publishing (The Canadians In Italy 3: D-Day Dodgers ID: CDN26)   [next]   [previous]

Lamone River, Italy 1944-12-05 (2 others)

Overview:

The First Division was having problems. Despite committing its reserve unit, the Carleton and York Regiment, the Third Brigade was unable to get beyond the Lamone. By the morning of 4 December, 48-hours after launching its first attacks, the brigade had finally closed up to the river, to find that the Germans had retired behind the blown railway and road bridges. It became apparent that the Third Brigade was not going to establish a bridgehead on the Lamone, and it was now up to the First Brigade. The Royal Canadian and Prince Edward regiments were scheduled to make their assault at 0100 hours on Tuesday, 5 December. The first troops to reach the Lamone, patrols from the RCR, were dismayed to discover that the river was far more serious obstacle than had been reported. To make matters worse, two companies of the Hasty Ps, despite warnings, moved right up to the embankment on the Canadian side and were pounded by their own preliminary bombardment. Meanwhile the RCR went ahead alone in the darkness, hastily constructed footbridges and secured a bridgehead. Things seemed to be going smoothly, then the Germans counterattacked. Under the cover of a thick grey mist, elements of the 114th Jäger Division supported by Italian-made self-propelled guns struck the RCR at daybreak.

Defender: Canadian (Royal Canadian Regiment)  

Errata (source)