July 1943

Sicily

Maj-Gen Kirkman orders Brig R. H. Senior, commanding the 151st Brigade, to launch a daylight attack against Primasole Bridge. At 7:30am the artillery opens up on the German positions and the 9th Durham Light Infantry attacks. The are halted immediatedly by machine-gun and mortar fire retreat out of range. 3 tanks from the 44th Royal Tank Regiment are also knocked out. The fight over at 9:30am. Kirkman then makes plans for another, stronger attack on the night to the 16th.

Meanwhile Col Wilhelm Schmalz has managed to link up on his right with Hermann Göring Panzer Division.

During the morning the Canadians, taking the lead from the 51st Division, advance west along Highway 124 toward their goal of Enna which is 70 miles away. The first 8 miles go quickly but at 9:00am they run into the rear guard of the Herman Göring Division at Grammichele and are halted. This fight rages for three hours with both sides suffering numerous vehicle losses. The units of the Herman Göring Division withdraw west along Hwy 124 toward Caltagirone under fire from the Canadian arty. Canadians move forward in the dark and before daylight are outside Caltagirone.

Montgomery's advance has in effect broken up into three wings: the 1st Canadian Division on the left, the XIII Corps (5th and 50th Divisions) on the right, and Maj-Gen Douglas N. Wimberley's 51st (Highland) Division in the center. Wimberleys objective on the 15th is to push rapidly ahead to secure bridgeheads across the Dittaino and Simeto rivers, while capturing airfields in the Gerbini vicinity and threatening the rear of Brigade Schmalz.

In US 7th Army area, Gen Patton forms a Provisional Corps, comprising 3rd Infantry Division, reinforced by the 3rd Ranger Battalion and supporting troops, and 82nd Airborne Division, reinforced by the newly arrived 39th Regimental Combat Team of the 9th Infantry Division and supporting troops. This corps is to be under the command of Maj-Gen Geoffrey Keyes and will operate on the western flank of the US 7th Army as it swings Northwest. The 2nd Armored Division, to which Combat Command A reverts, assembles in Campobello area under army control. The 3rd Division continues to patrol actively. The II Corps reaches Line Yellow all along its front, The 45th Division on the right flank is co-operating with XXX Corps in the vicinity of Caltagirone.