July 1943

Sicily

Gen Kirkman's night attack to secure Primasole Bridge begins at 1:00am. An eighty minute artillery barrage starts it. The 8th Durhams cross the Simeto River well to the left of the bridge at 2:10am unopposed. The Germans are well dug in and ready for an attack. The first two sections are cut down before the British commanders can rally their companies and mount a frontal assault in the vineyards. By daybreak the fighting is hand-to-hand with heavy casualties, but the Germans hold their positions. Two other Durham assault companies overrun the 3rd Parachute Engineer Company and race across the bridge. They dig in north of the bridge, but are subjected to hours of small attacks by the German paratroopers. The casualties are heavy but the British hang on. By dawn the British bridgehead is only about 300 yards deep, but most of the 8th and 9th Durhams are north of the river. In the afternoon Germans launch fanatical counterattack and almost succeed pushing British back to river, but mortar and machine gun fire halt the assault. The Germans take advantage of a lull in battle and drop more paratroopers in, the 4th Parachute Regiment under Lt-Col Erich Walter.

On the British left, the Canadians prepare a dawn attack but discover that the Germans have disappeared into the night. The Canadian vanguard moving out meets little resistance except for the ever present German mines. They take the village of San Michele di Ganzeria at the intersection of Highwys 117 and 124, and turn north to follow Highway 117 toward Enna and Leonforte. The 15th Panzer Grenadier Division is trying to delay both the Americans and the Canadians for as long as possible while also trying to avoid a double envelopment. Gen Eberhard Rodt's eastern flank is exposed but is supposed to be occupied by units of Livorno Division, but no one knew where these units were. Lt-Col Ens's 104th Panzer Grenadier Regimentt is given the responsibility of stopping the Canadians, but only one battalionn is assigned to the task. This unit waits for the Canadians three miles south of Piazza Armerina. The leading Canadian company is ambushed by machine guns, mortars and artillery, and falls back along Highway 117. This fight lasts all afternoon with the Edmonton Regiment, a battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders and the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry attack supported by two British artillery regiments. Despite the odds being against the Germans, they are still holding at dusk. The Germans again pull out under cover of darkness leaving mines and booby traps to delay the Canadian advance.

Wimberley's advance has slowed to 10 miles per day due to German delaying tactics, but clears the town of Palagonia.

By early afternoon Col Sherman's guns have silenced the last of the Italian guns and units of the US 3rd Division have surrounded the ancient city of Agrigento. The Americans soon break through the Italian perimeter and are soon fighting the last reserves in the streets. De Laurentis surrenders what's left of his coastal command. At 4:30pm the 3rd Ranger Battalion storms Porto Empedocle taking 700 prisoners, losing only 1 killed and 12 wounded. De Laurentis's 207th Coastal Div has ceased to exist. The 2nd Armored Division is sent against Palermo.