Day 1.
Meet at Ancona Airport and drive to Montefabbri.
Study the strategic background to the Italian Campaign, orientate to the ground and set the scene for the battle for the Gothic Line in September 1944.
Study the background to the decision to launch Op OLIVE – the Eighth Army’s attack on the Gothic Line along the Adriatic coast.
Study the advance by 5 Indian Infantry Brigade over the River Foglia and up onto Monte della Croce on 30 August 1944 as it pushed north towards Tavoleto.
Study the advance by 5 Indian Infantry Brigade towards Monte Calvo on 31 August 1944 as it pushed north towards Tavoleto.
Study the plan and execution of the deliberate 5 Indian Infantry Brigade attack on Tavoleto, assess its failure on 1-3 September 1944 and then examine 11 Indian Infantry Brigade’s plan and execution on the night of 3-4 September 1944.
Study the 11 Indian Infantry Brigade plan to secure San Pietro Ridge on 4-5 September 1944.
Study the execution of the 11 Indian Infantry Brigade plan to secure San Pietro Ridge on 4-7 September 1944.
Study the 1 British Armoured Division’s advance into the Conca valley intended to exploit 46 British Infantry Division’s success.
Day 2.
Study the 1 British Armoured Division’s disastrous attack towards the River Marano on 4-5 September 1944.
Study 56 British Infantry Division’s attacks on Croce on 4-9 September 1944.
Study the 169 British Infantry Brigade attack on Gemmano Ridge on 8-10 September 1944.
Study the 138 British Infantry Brigade attack on Gemmano Ridge on 10-13 September 1944.
Study the 11 Indian Infantry Brigade plan and execution to secure Point 449 on the western end of Gemmano Ridge on 15 September 1944.
Study the 5 Indian Infantry Brigade plan for the advance on San Marino on 17-18 September 1944, examine why it stalled and examine how 11 Indian Infantry Brigade regained the momentum on 19 September 1944.
Study the 11 Indian Infantry Brigade action to clear San Marino on 20 September 1944 and push west towards the River Marecchia.
Visit the Coriano Ridge CWGC Cemetery.
Study the 5 Canadian Armoured Division’s attack on Coriano Ridge as part of Op OLIVE – the Allied plan to breach the Gothic Line.
Visit the grave of Rifleman Sher Bahadur Thapa VC in the Rimini Gurkha CWGC Cemetery.
Day 3.
Study 4 British Infantry Division’s subsequent role as the follow-on force over the River Marano and into Ospedaletto.
Study 4 British Infantry Division’s operation to seize the northern end of Ripabianca Ridge.
Study the 10 British Infantry Brigade operation to clear Cerasolo in order to allow the 4 British Infantry Division’s advance to continue.
Study the 10 British Infantry Brigade operation to clear the lower slopes of San Acquilina Ridge prior to the 4 British Infantry Division’s assault to clear the southern end of San Fortunato Ridge.
Study the 10 British Infantry Brigade attack to clear the rest of San Acquilina Ridge prior to the 4 British Infantry Division’s assault to clear the southern end of San Fortunato Ridge.
Study the 1/6th Battalion East Surrey Regiment attack to clear the southern end of San Fortunato Ridge for which Major WBE Brown was awarded a Military Cross for gallantry.
Study 4 British Infantry Division’s part in the final stage of Op OLIVE – the crossing of the River Marecchia.
Visit the Gradara CWGC Cemetery.
Day 4.
Return to Ancona Airport.