War Diaries – 7th October 1943
Brigade HQ – TERMOLI.
0630 12 CTR reported all tanks in position. Otherwise nothing to report.
Bombline for 7 October, 2 miles west of River Simarca (7978) south to 750822.
6 Innisks reported all troops and support arms in position, otherwise nothing to report.
1000 36 Brigade reported enemy to be withdrawing west.
1105 Division altered bombline to 7082 – rd to 6565 – 7149. Brigade positions as per trace.
1630 2 LIR reported enemy shelling road 800765 – 805767 1530hrs.
1 RIrF reported intermittent enemy shelling area road 794 – 788755 – 784737.
1635 6 Innisks reported enemy shelling San Giacomo (H7870) from direction of Guglionesi (H7668). Shells fell in village and in valley in front of village.
1800 6 Innisks located enemy guns at 760695 and 760689 and requested M target.
6 Innisks contacted 5 Buffs in area 798716. Patrol contact small number of enemy in area 789716. Patrol opened fire and later, a car was found abandoned at 785721.
2 LIR reported that patrol saw two suspicious looking men in civilian clothing near buildings at 790785. When hailed, the men refused to stop and the patrol opened fire killing both. Both men were found to have German documents and were identified as I 64 Panzer Group Regiment.
1830 6 Innisks reported noise as of engines warming up (7 tanks) in valley west of Guglionesi at 1800hrs.
2100 1 RIrF patrols to 7750, 7677 and 7775. Nothing to report.
2330 Situation on Brigade front and future intention see Sitrep.
1 RIrF.
0500 Stand to for an hour. A and B Coys sent out patrols to their immediate front but found nothing.
0700 B Coy sent a platoon to search re-entrant on our left flank but again found nothing.
1000 Brigade Order Group Orders: Bttn will regroup. B Coy was to move to the high ground on the north of the Guglionisi. ¾ mile this side of the Brick Factory. D Coy was to take over B Coy’s old position. Bttn HQ moved to a building 200 yards from the road.
1100 Bttn in new positon.
1400 CO held office. A, B and C Coys sent out patrols to their immediate front. Nothing seen.
6 Innisks – SAN GIACOMO.
The night 6/7 October passed quietly with spasmodic shelling our right.
0430 Stand to. Coy positions were changed to make full use of ground, Bttn supporting arms were put in position at first light. 2 Platoons of Mortars and 1 of MGs from the Brigade Support Group, and one troop of 6 pounder A/Tk guns were allotted to Bttn in support. One carrier was knocked out by shelling.
Lieut McVie was evacuated with shell shock.
2 LIR.
A/Lieutenant Col H Rogers granted temporary rank of Lieutenant/Col.
W/Lieutenant MOW Clarke MC admitted to hospital
0745 Intelligence observation post established 155/803780 with E Company HQ.
1000 G Company take 5 prisoners of war (2 Wounded) hiding near their positions.
1030 Brigadier at Battalion HQ.
1230 Battalion HQ moves forward to Farm 155/810770.
1530 Spasmodic enemy shelling of area 155/800765.
Commanding Officer and Intelligence Officer establish command post in E Company area.