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Orsogna
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On 3 December, the 23rd was just forward of Castelfrentano in positions on the road which ran along the east side of the Moro valley. But a second and more important series of defences ran north-east from Guardiagrele, a village high up above the source of one of the Sangro's tributaries, through the town of Orsogna and along the road to Ortona, near the coast. The ridge on which this road ran was separated by the valley of the Moro from the road and ridge on which the 23rd had taken up the positions it was to hold for five days while 6 Brigade units, notably 25 Battalion, attempted to take Orsogna.
While in these positions west of Castelfrentano, the 23rd came under some heavy shelling and a few Luftwaffe attacks, deaths and casualties being suffered from both. D Company on the left, nearest the 'Mad Mile' which ran past the brickworks although on a different road, came under the heaviest shelling. On several occasions, trucks moving on this road were subjected to accurate and heavy shelling.
On 6 December, Divisional Headquarters issued an operation order for the two infantry brigades to attack across the Moro, capture Orsogna and a one-mile stretch of the road to Ortona. While 6 Brigade was to advance up Brecciarola ridge With 24 Battalion, supported by 18 Armoured Regiment, 5 Brigade was to attack up Pascuccio spur with the 28th, while the 23rd took the greater part of Sfasciata ridge in order to safeguard the Maoris' right flank.
These orders did not reach the 23rd on the morning of 7 December until after Colonel Romans and his company commanders, Wilson, Kirk (who had taken over B Company from Montgomery, evacuated sick), Robins and Ross, had gone on a reconnaissance of the front in the 25th FDLS. They returned with only just sufficient time to get their men moving to commence the attack at 1.30 p.m. from a start line on the crest of San Felice ridge on the near side of the Moro. The plan was for A to move first and to seize the centre of the ridge around the 'Pink and White House', B was to seize and hold the right flank, while C was to edge up the ridge towards its junction with the main Ortona road ridge, and D, in reserve, was to move later and fill any gaps in rear of A and B.
Drizzling rain reduced the supporting air activity and made the climbing of slippery slopes somewhat difficult, but all three attacking companies had an easy task since no infantry opposition was met. Battalion Headquarters was soon set up in the Pink and White House and D Company came forward to its reserve position on the right flank.
However the other attacking units, had been forced to withdraw. This meant that Sfasciata was the only territorial gain made, and that the 23rd was forward and somewhat isolated from the rest of the Division. The higher command decided to reinforce this minor success and to use Sfasciata as a route for bringing forward tanks and supporting arms which would enable the infantry to take and hold a bridgehead over the Ortona road.
D Coy position was at the top of a reverse slope crowned by a house and courtyard & an 8 ft clay cliff below. The platoons were first in & had a cave in the cliff & slitties at its front. Ians slittie was down the slope a little as they weren't supposed to bunch up. He heard the 'pop' of a distant mortar fire, saw the black speck climb up high, curve over & descend. It was 50/50 whether it clipped the top of the cliff or came into his trench. It hit the top & he moved into the cave. That afternoon his slittie was obliterated.
On 14 December orders were issued for the attack to secure a bridgehead over the Ortona road. Fifth Brigade, with the 21st on the right and the 23rd on the left, was responsible for the main attack, but 17 British Brigade was to attack on the right of the New Zealanders and around Poggiofiorito and 6 Brigade was to guard the left flank, with the 25th advancing up Pascuccio ridge to join the 23rd at the cemetery on the Ortona road. In the 23rd, the attack was to be made from C Company's FDLs up Sfasciata and over the road and railway. C Company was to remain in reserve while B on the right, D in the centre, and A on the left made the attack under an artillery barrage. Zero hour was fixed for 1 a.m. on 15 December. The tanks of 18 Armoured Regiment were to support both the 21st and the 23rd against an armoured counter-attack and were to be prepared to exploit to the west.
By half an hour after midnight, the three attacking companies were in their forming-up places about 100 yards behind their start line. Promptly at 1 a.m. the artillery barrage opened and the mortars joined in. As the barrage was to stand on its opening line for ten minutes, the infantry took their time about approaching the start line. As the company in the centre, D probably encountered the worst shell and mortar fire but the ground on its front enabled it to make good progress. Ian said the supporting guns were firing short and along with the enemy fire, caused serious casualties (Ian believed 47%). All those in his vicinity had clothing or equipment cut by schrapnell. One man had his webbing belt and the singlet beneath gouged out but the skin was unbroken.
D Company crossed the road and the railway in quick succession. Once these easily recognised features were crossed, the objective was quickly reached and the company reported back to Battalion Headquarters to this effect before 2 a.m.
Not long after 2 a.m. the forward companies reported enemy activity on their respective fronts and apparent preparations for a counter-attack. Small parties of enemy approached and either set up machine guns to harass the 23rd infantry or tried to penetrate the freshly won area. Without exception, these probing moves were broken up either by infantry or artillery defensive fire. Later three tanks from the direction of Arielli penetrated 21 Battalion's sector, and one of these moved farther down the road to where it halted behind B Company's 12 Platoon. The tank made no attempt to leave the road but began spraying the area occupied by B and D Companies with machine-gun fire. For a moment it appeared that the forward infantry would be cut off by tanks. But Private Bob Clay, used a Piat as an anti-tank weapon to knock it out of action. Kiwi tanks arrived just before daybreak, and moved into the 21st sector.
As usual, the Battalion signallers did everything possible to maintain communications between the forward companies and the headquarters. The first line party to go forward came under unexpected fire from enemy who had remained concealed in a straw stack. Eventually they established two complete circuits, which met at D Company's headquarters, and these preserved line communication from then on.
The night of 15 - 16 December was quiet and peaceful until after midnight, when the men in the forward posts reported enemy movement in front. As the area ahead was marked off under various code words for artillery support, Ian called for "Stonk Charlie" a couple of times and nothing more developed until 3.15 a.m., when 21 Battalion and B and D Companies of the 23rd were attacked by tanks and infantry, preceded by heavy artillery concentrations. Nine tanks, five of them flame-throwers, supported by assault guns and paratroops acting as infantry, came in and shot up the area. In the main, the attack on the 23rd front was confined to infantry, but on the road close to B Company, two tanks and a flame-thrower approached close enough to cause concern. Although the major attack was centred on the 21st front, the 23rd men saw an unforgettable sight of belching flames, tracer bullets flying in wild profusion, flares and, eventually, burning tanks. About 4 a.m. some Bren-gunners from the carriers arrived to reinforce the position in D Company. About the same time a couple of 18th tanks came to positions where they were able to fire with good effect on the enemy tanks. Eventually, after four enemy tanks, including two flame-throwers, had been knocked out and the infantry advances repelled, the enemy withdrew. By 5 a.m. the area was quiet again. This action prompted Ian to pen his Orsogna Interlude poem.
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