1^st April.

0005 A Coy in position Caira 8424.

0050 Battalion HQ opens at house 841245.

0100  C Coy in reserve position 847260.

0120 D Coy in position 831250.

0200 B Coy in position 840250.  Relief of III/$ RTT complete.

2100 Enemy MG fire to right front of B Coy. Jeep and mule trains forward from San Michele 9023.

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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2^nd April.

0442 Enemy MG fire in hills opposite B Coy.

2040 Enemy MG fire in front of B Coy.

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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3^rd April.

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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4^th April.

0300 Enemy MG fire in front of B Coy.  Continued intermittently. No evident reason.

1200 Received 38 Brigade OO N. 32 (Defence of Brigade sector).

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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5^th April.

0200 Enemy patrol about 12 strong approached forward platoon D Coy.  Exchange of SA fire.

0240 Arty fire on withdrawing enemy.  No ascertained casualties.

0255 Enemy withdrawing.

0900 28 Brigade (on right) request move of C Coy from their area.  New reserve area recced 835264.

1945 C Coy move into new area.

2030 Bursts of enemy MG opposite B Coy.  Located by cross-bearings from B and D Coys at about 828258

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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6^th April.

0320 Sounds of enemy digging in front of D Coy.

0330 Artillery fire on area from which above sounds came.

2132 Direct hit by shell on one of A Coy’s buildings.  Six ORs wounded.  One OR suffering severe shock.

2300 Prearranged shoot by 17 Field Regiment and D Sp Group mortars on area of enemy nightly MG shootings. – No firing from this area during night.

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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7^th April.

2030 2.i.c. (Major HFW Holmes) came forward and assumed command of Battalion.  CO to attend conferences (Infantry cooperation) at HQ 13 Corps.

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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8^th April.

Leaflets dropped by shell over B Coy.  A few collected in very tattered condition.  Sent to Brigade.

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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9^th April.

0330 C Coy moved to new reserve position 837240.

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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10^th April.

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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11^th April .

1930 CO returned and resumed command.

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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12^th April.

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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13^th April.

2015 Artillery & 4.2” mortars on area from which enemy MG fire comes nightly.

2022 Repeat of above – No MG fire from area during night.

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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14^th April.

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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15^th April.

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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16^th April.

0600 One OR (C Coy) killed by stray MG bullet at extreme range.

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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17^th April.

0315 Enemy patrol approached right forward section B Coy.  Were heard coming, but opened fire and threw grenades before coming close enough for effective action by own SA fire returned.  Enemy retired and was pursued with 4.2” mortar & artillery fire.

0600 German FS cap found in area of patrol engagement.  Indicating mountain troops is probably IV Mountain Battalion which is thought to be on Monte Cairo.

1900 One OR wounded by enemy shell.

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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18^th April.

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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19^th April.

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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20^th April.

1830 Received 38 Brigade No 33 (relief of Brigade and move to area Capua).

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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21^st April.

1830 Received 38 Brigade Admin Order No 7 (Hand-over and move).

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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22^nd April.

0900 Received addendum No 1 and amendment No 1 to 38 Brigade OO No 33.

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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23^rd April.

0900 Operations order issued (hand-over to 17 Polish Battalion and move to new area).

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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24^th April.

1930 Movement Instruction received from Brigade

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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25^th April.

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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26^th April.

0140 C Coy relieved by a coy of 16 Polish Battalion and moved to new area, arriving about 0730 hrs.

0145 Support weapons of 17 Polish Battalion took over tasks of ours which were withdrawn.

0230 Reps of 17 Polish Battalion to all coys (less C).  Each presented with copy of local admin arrangements.

Enemy HF. Routine patrols.

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27^th April.

Enemy HF.

2320 Relief by 17 Polish Battalion starts.

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28^th April.

0145 A Coy relieved.

0300 B Coy relieved.

0320 D Coy relieved.

Much trouble from mule and Jeep blocks on march across valley.  Rear coys were not clear by daylight and were shelled.  D Coy had one officer (Lt JV Baker) slightly wounded (remained on duty) and two ORs wounded.

0800 Arrived new area Formicola 1989.

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29^th April.

Admin.

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30^th April.

Admin.

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