51 Highland Division

July 8th.

The Div convoy sailed from SFAX and it was not until after sailing that the destination was made known to all ranks - it was SICILY.

July 10th.

After a stormy passage which caused considerable dispersion and delays in the various convoys the Assault Brigade touched down on the PACHINO PENINSULAR at about 0300 hours.

The assault appeared to take the enemy by surprised with the result that the bridgehead was gained with very slight opposition. 241 Bty's Guns got ashore without much difficulty and were placed in action at the prearranged sites.

The L.S.T. Convoy appeared off the peninsular at about noon and although considerable air opposition had been expected, none was uncounted until dusk when there was a considerable amount of flare dropping and bombing of the beaches and invasion craft.

The remainder of the Regt disembarked that night and during the morning of the next day and concentrated in an area near the beach where we de-waterproofed before moving on further.

Bty's were immediately allotted to their affiliated Bdes as follows: 241 Bty already with 154 Bde; 242 to 153 Bde and 243 to 152 Bde - 193 remained with R.H.Q. as div Reserve.

Still meeting only slight opposition the div moved up the road NOTO - PALAZZOLA - BUSCEHI - BUCCHERI until, on 13 July considerable opposition was met by 231 (MALTA) brigade who were temporarily under command at VIZZINI the heights above which they managed to secure on this day but were pushed off by a counter- attack during the night. The flanking movement of 152 brigade round to the right via FRANCOFONTE was also held up by German parachutists. At this spot 243 Bty under comd of Capt.W.Lyon fired the first A Tk rounds of the campaign ata pill box with great effect and from this day the employment of A Tk guns in the Division underwent a great change - the policy being always to have some well up with the leading Inf for use as close support or assault guns. A.P. shot was found to be most effective against pill boxes or M.G. Posts in houses.

July 14th.

An attack with full arty support was put in on VIZZINI during the night by 154 Bde which was successful and 152 were also able to push on through FRANCOFONTE.

July 15th.

The div pushed on on a two brigade front. 152 Right and 153 left to SCORDIA & MILITELLO and by the end of the day our fwd troops held the rough line Road Junc N.E. of SCORDIA to PALAGONIA on the high ground overlooking the CATANIA Plain which stretched away to the North.

It was clear at this time that the enemy had withdrawn and was holding a line behind the numerous river beds in the plain.

July 16th.

Various small bridgeheads were made across the River GORNALUNGA notably the FANNY crossing on the right. Two Pheasants were deployed here by 'L' Troop (Lt.J.Bell) and to the next crossing to the left 'LOVATT'. Considerable alarm was caused by a report that FANNY had been retaken by the enemy and that a Pheasant had been captured. However it tuned out that it was only a raid and that the Pheasant had been able to withdraw after having had the enemy all around it.

243 Bty were put under comd 23 Armd Bde for a period and had a hand in making the LOVATT and ARGYLL crossings. 'J' Troop had some shooting against enemy in houses and successfully flushed several enemy from houses and enabled the machine ginners to knock them out.

During this period the infantry Bdes were pushing round to the left via PALAGONIA and RAMACCA.

154 Bde pushed on from RAMACCA to the east and made a bridgehead over the R.DITTAINO at LION CROSSING on the RAMACCA -CATANIA road while 153 Bde pushed North and made a bridgehead over the same river at SFERRO.

On 154's left flank however, there was a strongly defended area at GIRBINI aerodrome and it was decided that this must be cleared up before any further advance to the East could be made.

During 154's advance to the bridgehead a sharp engagement had taken place at this spot but our tps had withdrawn from it. 'C' Tp of 241 Bty had some good shooting at M.G. post in the houses and with particular success at one house which also, from the resultant explosion, was deduced to be an Amn Dump.

July 20th.

An attack by 154 Bde on GERBINI was decided upon for this night. The attack was to be done by 7th A & S.H. supported by 'B' Tp and 1/2 'A' Tp (Pheasants) of 241b Bty and a squadron of 40 R.T.R. All did not go too well and the situation on first light on 21st was most confused. Two guns of 'B' Tp were sent round to the right via the Aerodrome with orders to deploy in the area of the x rds firing North and N.E. Capt.W.H.Matthews went to recce posns for these guns and was not seen alive again. The two pheasants were deployed on the start line at the A Tk Ditch.

An enemy counter attack was successful and it was decided to withdraw to the line of the A Tk ditch. This was eventually done and the two 6 pdrs in GERBINI and the Pheasant of 'L' Troop which had been put in action North of the A Tk Ditch were over run by the enemy.