During the first few days of March, the three battalions of the Irish Brigade continued to clear German forces from the areas near to Stuka Ridge and Grandstand and, by 9th March, it became evident that all enemy offensive activity in the area had been completely thwarted, and the brigade was able to reassert routine patrol activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On 5th March, the Irish Brigade received notification that it would be joining 78th (Battleaxe) Infantry Division within a few days, and changing places with 1 Guards Brigade, and ten days later, the brigade started to be relieved by units of 1st Infantry Division with 2 LIR and 6 Innisks being withdrawn to rest areas near to Testour, and 1 RIrF joining them a week later in the Beja area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On 18th March, Lt Col TPD (Pat) Scott was appointed the new Commanding Officer of 2 LIR to replace Lt-Col JB Jeffreys with Lt-Col BH (Beauchamp) Butler taking over command of 1 RIrF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the last week of March, 1 RIrF and 6 Innisks were again ready to move to forward areas, while 2 LIR, after receiving substantial amounts of reinforcements, continued to undergo intensive battalion training programmes. 2nd Hampshire Regiment (2 Hamps) joined the brigade as a short term replacement for 2 LIR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the month came to end, the Irish Brigade, less 2 LIR, and with 2 Hamps under command, were preparing for major offensive activity with the rest of 78th Division in the mountainous area of the Oued Zarga\/Medjez-el-Bab sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n