Moves were frequent and parties were worn to a frazzle preparing, on an
average, two or three positions for every one that was occupied.
It was during this period that 1 Para Div caused some excitement by putting
in a strong counter-attack.
Capt. J.F. Wolfe was forced to shoot up his own Observation Post and Battalion
Headquarters since the Germans were outside and on the roof of both.
While withdrawing in his tank he brought down fire on the two buildings and the attack
collapsed.
Some enemy air activity was encountered in the SAN GIOVANI area with
Jerry
dropping anti-personnel bombs and strafing during the night.
CORIANO.
28.
The advance bogged down in CORIANO area and registration for a set-piece attack was
begun and in the first two days the Regiment participated in two
WILLIAM
targets on the town.
For everyone this was by far the toughest battle of the campaign.
As soon as the advance slowed Jerry's counter-battery became
effective and he
shelled the gun area regularly with various marks of “boxcars”.
For the FOOs up front “the Ridge”
was truly a hotspot.
They were repeatedly shelled out of their OPs
and casualties there and at the gun area were high.
On 6th September Capt. W.R. Goodwin was killed in an OP overlooking CORIANO
and it was in the same OP on the following day that Capt. C.E. Brown won
the Military Cross.
His citation reads:
“On 7 September 1944 Lieut (Acting Captain) Charles Edward BROWN was the
Forward Observation Officer with the Irish Regt. of Canada on the ridge
just east of CORIANO.
The whole brigade area (11 Cdn Infantry Brigade) and in particular,
the Irish Regiment, was being very heavily shelled and there were many
casualties.
Capt. Brown was located well forward and was the only remaining officer
who was in a position to quickly and effectively neutralize
these enemy guns.
His fellow Forward Observation Officer had been
killed and his Battery Commander wounded by the same shelling.