February was a quiet month for all three battalions of the Irish Brigade. Both the Faughs and the Skins had been withdrawn from their winter front line positions near San Clemente at the end of January with the Irish Rifles being eventually relieved on 4th February. After a few days at rest north of Florence, the whole brigade travelled to Forli where, by the end of the month, they had started their preparations for future offensive operations, which were being planned for the drier spring time period.

Read Pat Scott’s narrative of the period after the Irish Brigade moved out of the mountains.

Read CQMS Edmund O’Sullivan’s account of the move to Forli.

Key Dates:

4th February: 2 LIR are withdrawn from the front line to join the rest of the brigade.

10th/11th February: All three battalions of the brigade move to Forli.

February 1945 Roll of Honour:

1st February 1945 – Rifleman Thomas Warren, London Irish Rifles.

3rd February 1945 – Private Alexander Baxter, London Irish Rifles, attached from ACC.

17th February 1945 – Fusilier John Fitzpatrick, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

February 1945 War Diaries:

38 (Irish) Brigade.

2 Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

1 Royal Irish Fusiliers.

2 London Irish Rifles.

Day by Day.