This Day in History: 1944-07-21

As dawn broke A Company (Major H Shakespear) and B Company (Major D Ramsay-Brown) of the 1st Battalion succeeded in capturing two of the three enemy held positions on the Piana de Maggio feature. At 12.30 hrs after 23 minutes bombardment by artillery and tanks of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry and 7th Indian Brigade machine guns, D Company (Major the Hon L Shore) attacked the position still held by the Germans, but a curtain of mortar fire caught the company HQ and a reserve platoon from C Company. Among those mortally wounded was Major Shore. However, the attack was successful and drew congratulations from the highest quarters despite the high number of casualties – 18 killed and 35 wounded.