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As winter approached the Regiment came into action once more under command 43 GURKHA LORRIED INFANTRY BRIGADE with the 10th INDIAN DIVISION. This was the odd war of flood-banks which was raging, and the gallop intended was at most a slow trot with plenty of tricky jumps, necessitating enormous fire-plans to get the infantry across the LAMONE and MONDONI and into FAENZA. The halt came on the river SENIO — the second winter line.
This line having been made firm the Regiment and Brigade came out to rest at FORLIMPOPOLI returning to the SENIO on 18th February. This was a peculiarly primeval type of war, at distressingly close quarters for the OPs which were merely local OPS for forward platoons, in one case being in a tunnel in the same floodbank that the Germans had dug in position. To close up to the floodbank all along the line a vast amount of ammunition was fired with but moderate effect, and the winter line stalemate was declared.
Meanwhile, supplies for a monstrous final attack were piling up and on the 25th March the Regiment and Brigade concentrated near RIMINI. For the third time in a year they were part of a pursuit force — this time an armoured one which had the 2nd RTA and the 14/20 KINGS HUSSARS, the infantry being carried in GANGAROOS. Before these were to be committed the SECOND POLISH CORPS were to establish a lead over the SENIOR AND THE SANTERNO. The Regiment was put under command 5th KRESOVA DIVISION as additional firepower for this early stage, and did not revert until the SENIO was crossed.
Slowly at first, they were relentlessly pushed back, bridgehead over the SILLARO was established by the 2/10 GURKHAS and the time had come for the 2/6 to deploy in GANGAROOS. On 16th April they made a spectacular dash for MEDICINA, completely overrunning all the German positions and taking numerous prisoners of the 4th PARA DIVISION — old adversaries. Next day the force was again held up at the floodbanks of the RIVER GAIANO, from which the parachutists were finally dislodged after a terrific bombardment two days later.
During this progress Lieut. Colonel T F K HOWARD DSO RA left to take command of 6 AGRA and was succeeded by Lieut.Colonel C F J PRICE RA.
The chase was on. The backbone of resistance was broken. Alternatively jogging along in Brigade column or coming into action in support of 2nd NZ Division, under whose command they were, the Regiment crossed the RIVER PO on the 26th the ADIGE on the 27th; and on the night of the 28th formed up to make a dash for PADUA. They arrived in the early morning and did an emergency action at full speed taking 185 prisoners — a fitting way to occupy the last position of the war.
On 2nd May COLONEL VIETINGHOFF accepted unconditional surrender on behalf of all German Armies in ITALY and SOUTHERN AUSTRIA.
The War in Europe was over within a week.
Throughout the ITALIAN Campaign ammunition was constantly and punctually delivered by 1565 Platoon RASC to whom the greatest credit is due.
During the last dash the Regiment had fired over 32,000 rounds, bringing the total up to 470,000 fired in ITALY.
Since they left ENGLAND 23rd FIELD REGIMENT had lost 8 Officers killed and 1 wounded. 49 other ranks killed, 145 wounded and 7 missing.
The Regiment received 2 DSOs, 9 MILITARY CROSSES, and one BAR to MILLITARY CROSS, 8 MILITARY MEDALS, 10 CROIX DE GUERRE and 18 MENTION IN DISPATCHES.
More than this, though no figures can substantiate it, they earned the respect and confidence of the Infantry they had supported.
Copy from original manuscript produced in Italy 1945
By Sgt. R B SWATMAN, Regimental Chief Clerk
23rd ARMY FIELD REGIMENT RA 2 AGRA

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