The Simeto valley is deeper and wider than the Salso and there is a definite cliff-edged escarpment in places on both sides. The valley is extremely fertile and is filled with orange trees. Terraces and water channels have been built on either side of the river bed, affording plenty of cover. The river itself is much deeper and faster flowing that the Salso; it is strewn with rocks and boulders and extremely difficult to cross while carrying a load.
At 1am on 5th August 1943, the Battalion resumed the advance with two forward Companies, C Coy right and D Coy left with A and B Companies following with Battalion HQ along the road. C Company had to force their way through thick fruit trees to the river bank at Point 234, whilst D Company went along the main road. Battalion HQ established themselves near the railway bridge with A and B Companies.
At 530am, a report arrived from D Company to say that strong opposition had been encountered from the houses on the high terraced ground overlooking the blown bridge and that the Company had had to withdraw to the south bank, leaving one Platoon which had covered this movement on the far bank.
The Company Commander (Captain DEH Hayward MC) had been wounded. Almost at the same time, a success signal was seen from C Company’s crossing. The CO at once went forward to reconnoitre the situation, ordering A Company to move to the right. It was found that firing was also in progress on C Company’s front and that some casualties had been inflicted, including the Company Commander (Captain JS Clarke) wounded.
Wireless communication was not working and, in the early morning light, the position of C Company could not be located by the CO; accordingly a Platoon of A Company supported by 3-inch Mortars and MMGs was at once sent forward well to the right, where opposition appeared to be lightest. By 645am, this Platoon could be seen reaching the cliff top. I t was now seen that C Company were below the cliff, evidently held up by enemy posts to the right and left on the lip of the cliff.
Under cover of intense MMG, Bren and 3-inch Mortar fire, the remainder of A Company were pushed across. Great difficulty was experienced in crossing the river, which was waist deep on places, very swift flowing and strewn with boulders. However, by 8am, the Company had firmly established themselves in a bridgehead on the cliff top.
Battalion HQ now established itself on the escarpment at Point 234. C Company was then moved to the right, placed under command of Major PJ Proctor and the bridgehead enlarged to include some of the houses in the area.
Throughout this period, many enemy posts were seen being vacated due to the pressure being exerted by A Company and the intense volume of fire now being brought to bear on the opposite cliff edge by supporting weapons and artillery.
It is not often one really enjoys oneself during a battle but this was one of those moments. At about 800 yards range, running figures appeared, dashing for dear life from cover to cover. They were hotly pursued by fire from every available weapon. At least four MGs, five or six Brens, innumerable rifles and even 6-pounders, were firing for all they knew. Every time the unfortunate men stopped behind cover for a breather, they were promptly flushed by our 3-inch Mortars and kept on the move. It was really grand to see the proud Nazi warriors belting along as if the Devil himself was after them, hurling themselves to the ground and then bolting like shot rabbits to the next bit of cover.
After a conference at Brigade HQ, it decided to launch a Brigade attack on the position. The London Irish, who had not yet succeeded in crossing were to cross behind a barrage whilst the Faughs were to attack the houses behind the road junction and river, starting from the bridgehead; at the same time, the Battalion was to seize Point 272. A heavy artillery concentration and 4.2-inch Mortars was ordered to support the attack and a number of MMGs, 3-inch Mortars and two of the Battalion’s Anti-Tank Guns were also included in the Battalion’s fire plan.
All through that day, from an early hour, the road between the River Salso and the River Simeto was subjected to spasmodic shell fire. And during this period, a number of casualties occurred, including Major CPJD O’Farrell MC, OC S Company, who was killed by a salvo of bombs from a six-barrelled Mortar.
C Company Skins was placed under command for this operation as a Battalion reserve.
At 330pm, B Company’s attack went in; the Company moved with great speed and dash with two Platoons up and actually entered a large house (the “Casino”) on the road whilst our own shells were bursting around it. The enemy (3rd Company, 3 Para Rifle Regiment) ran out at the back. Another Platoon moved round the flank and on towards the dominating house in this locality, whilst the third Platoon took on a third building.
The enemy promptly counter-attacked the Casino with Schmeissers and bombs and drove out the first Platoon, causing a large number of casualties and wounding Lieutenant Cammiade. Meanwhile, neither of the other Platoons were able to effect an entrance into the other houses in spite of Anti-Tank fire assisting them, owing to the tough resistance put up by the enemy. Captain PJ Brady was wounded and many other casualties inflicted.
Meanwhile, a Platoon of A Company, under Lieutenant Trousdell, had set out to take Point 272. Hardly had they started than deadly fire from two MG 34s in a house on the flank only 150 yards away caught them in the open. A good many men were hit and it was only with the greatest difficulty the remainder could be got to cover. Later, under directions from Major Proctor, nine Boche were cleared out of the house and shot dead to a man.
By 6pm, it was clear that, although parties of the enemy had been moving off to the hills, the houses were still in enemy hands. C Company of the Skins under Major Savage was accordingly ordered to clear the place. This was the same Company which had been the first to clear Centuripe. They moved forward about dusk, stormed the Casino and, with little further opposition, occupied the reminder of the area.
D Company did what they could to assist these attacks and disposed of the Boche in the houses overlooking the blown bridge. As both B and D Companies had had a very tough day of it, they were withdrawn across the river during the night to rest and reorganise and their places taken by two Companies of the Skins.
So ended the crossing of the last river obstacle.
The Irish Brigade had honourably acquitted itself and the Faughs had done as much and more fighting than any Battalion in the Brigade. It was now the turn of the other Brigades of the Division to carry on the advance, whilst we Irish enjoyed a well-earned rest.
So it was that the next four days that we spent on the banks of the Simeto. The place was a paradise after our hard fighting; there were acres of fruit in all directions, delightful bathing in the deep pools of the river and, best of all, icy-cold spring water. Little did we know it – all the time we were piling up trouble for the future, the place was rife with malarial mosquitoes and we paid a heavy price for our leisure later on.