6th Bn, Lincolnshire Regiment, 10/09/1944. Help needed please.

[JOHNB84]

I am trying to establish the circumstances surrounding another one of my local lads deaths (details below) I believe, looking at the CWGC, that his battalion was involved in action at Coriano Ridge, Italy. Also if possible any history on his battalion would be a great bonus, Any help gratefully received.

Thanks
John.

CWGC :: Casualty Details

[Owen]

See this webpage John. Might help, sorry I have nothing in print on them.
(Maybe Paul has.)
Gemmano...1944 - The battles

3rd attack to Gemmano
(September 10 - 13, 1944)

....while the 6th Lincolnshire and the 6th York & Lancaster were to advance from the SE with the support of the tanks of the Major Preen's 46th Recce ....Like their predecessors, even KOYLI troopers, not to mention the Lincolns, had to pay with a number of casualties the Gebirgsjägers' strong reaction (on Sept.10 only, Lincolns suffered 150 casualties),

[JOHNB84]

Owen
Cheers mate, the site you have pointed me to is of great help. Thanks again

John

[Owen]

Read this yesterday in the 46th Division History page 80 regarding Gemmano.

When the battlefield was being cleared, a soldier of the Lincolns was found with clenched fingers gripping the cross on Hill 449, where he had fallen in the first attack.
The changing fortunes of battle had not moved him from the place he had won at the cost of his life.

[Paul Reed]

What a moving extract - thanks for sharing that, Owen.

[Tom Canning]

John et al
while the battle for Gemmano / Croce was being fought, a few short miles to the east - the 1st Canadian Division with the British 21st Tank bde was hammering away at San Martino which were foothills compared to Gemmano with little luck - and so on the 13th we retired for a rest to Cattolica as we had been at it pretty hard since the 25th August - we returned on the late evening of the 15th ready to go again early on the 16th but we had a problem with 88mm/s; on the Rimini Airfield and so the RA had a stonk of a couple of hours all around - then the Navy sent in two destroyers to do the same -

Then the RAF wanted a go and came back the following morning and shot us up and spoiled our breakfast - so we set off with six tanks and two depleted Canadian company's from the Seaforth's - no Tanks came back and I spent the next six months in hospitals - someone - I think Gen. Hull said that Coriano Ridge was another Cassino - he was probably right .

A good report on this battle is by Stu Hamilton in his "Armoured Odessey" - it's agood read.
Cheers

[Owen]

Here is a map from 6 Y & L Regt War Diary from September 1944.

[Owen]

From the Divisional History page 79.

Meanwhile plans ahd been made for the Lincolns to capture in succession Hill449, Zollara and the southern spur. As the companies moved forwrd through Villa towards Gemmano they were met by intense artillery and mortar fire , and suffered many casualties before they even reached Hill 414 from which the attack was to be launched. Shortely after midday, under a blanket of smoke, one depleted company put in a dashing assault and reached the lonely cross. But the bare hillside was exposed to enemy fire from the right flank, and four hours later attempts were still being made to dislodge the Lincolns from their hard won postitions.

That night....the Lincolns would then clear the spur southwards as far as Farneto . But enemy infiltration during the night caused considerable confusion....