jainso31
27-07-2012, 12:39
In April 1945, the Germans made a stand at Argenta in north-east Italy. By flooding a large area, they left themselves a narrow strip of land to defend between the town and Lake Comacchio, known as the Argenta Gap. On April 18 the 8th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, part of the 78th Infantry Division, was ordered to capture the village of Consandolo to the north of Argenta.
Commanded by Leask, then a major, it quickly ran into stiff opposition. Four of the supporting tanks were knocked out by German armour and self-propelled guns, and the leading companies became involved in fighting on the eastern outskirts of Boccaleone to the south.
Leask swung his two reserve companies to the north across ground intersected by drainage ditches and canals. After heavy fighting, they were held up short of their objective; the battalion, which had been in action for seven hours and had only four serviceable tanks left, was ordered to break off for two hours.
At 3 pm Leask led another attack behind an artillery barrage, which resulted in the capture of Consandolo and cut the main road from Ravenna to Ferrara, opening the way for the armour to resume its advance northwards.
This was the turning point in a hard day's fighting in which 500 prisoners were taken by the division. Leask's leadership, sound judgment and dogged perseverance were recognised by the award of the DSO.
jainso31
Commanded by Leask, then a major, it quickly ran into stiff opposition. Four of the supporting tanks were knocked out by German armour and self-propelled guns, and the leading companies became involved in fighting on the eastern outskirts of Boccaleone to the south.
Leask swung his two reserve companies to the north across ground intersected by drainage ditches and canals. After heavy fighting, they were held up short of their objective; the battalion, which had been in action for seven hours and had only four serviceable tanks left, was ordered to break off for two hours.
At 3 pm Leask led another attack behind an artillery barrage, which resulted in the capture of Consandolo and cut the main road from Ravenna to Ferrara, opening the way for the armour to resume its advance northwards.
This was the turning point in a hard day's fighting in which 500 prisoners were taken by the division. Leask's leadership, sound judgment and dogged perseverance were recognised by the award of the DSO.
jainso31