9th (2nd City of London) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
Salerno
### Salerno

Because of Montgomery's doubts, 56th (L) Division was not in fact used in Operation Husky. Instead it moved back to [Tripoli](/wiki/Tripoli%2C_Libya "Tripoli, Libya") in [Libya](/wiki/Libya "Libya") for further training in combined operations at [Zuara](/wiki/Zuara "Zuara"), first 'dryshod', then with waterproofed vehicles and landing craft.
While the Sicilian campaign continued, planning began for Operations [Avalanche](/wiki/Operation_Avalanche "Operation Avalanche") and [Baytown](/wiki/Operation_Baytown "Operation Baytown"), the assault landings on mainland Italy. 56th (London) Division was assigned to Avalanche, to land at [Salerno](/wiki/Salerno "Salerno"). Loading began on 1 September and the assault troops of 56th (L) Division set sail from Tripoli aboard convoy TSS\-1 on 3 September.Parkinson, pp. 113, 131–3\.Molony, Vol V, p. 265\.
[thumb\|right\|A 9th Royal Fusiliers PIAT team at Salerno.](/wiki/File:The_British_Army_in_Italy_1943_NA6683.jpg "The British Army in Italy 1943 NA6683.jpg")
H\-Hour was at 03\.30 on 9 September. 167 Bde's leading infantry landing craft touched down at 03\.35 covered by naval gunfire, with 8th (right) and 9th (left) Battalions Royal Fusiliers landing either side of the [Tusciano](/wiki/Tusciano "Tusciano") river. 9th Royal Fusiliers' objective was the town of [Battipaglia](/wiki/Battipaglia "Battipaglia"). On landing they found that the covering rocket fire had not silenced a German [88mm gun](/wiki/8.8_cm_Flak_18/36/37/41 "8.8 cm Flak 18/36/37/41") battery, which continued to fire seawards until it was silenced by an Allied destroyer, the naval shells only just clearing the fusiliers. Apart from a position containing four machine guns, which was assaulted by D Company, there was little opposition. Using commandeered transport, including tractors, horses, farm carts and bicycles, the battalion pushed inland and established battalion HQ in Battipaglia by nightfall.Molony, Vol V, pp. 258–60, 276–8, 283–4\.Parkinson, pp. 134–7\.

However, because neighbouring units including 8th Royal Fusiliers had not made such good progress, the position at Battipaglia was dangerously isolated. Counter\-attacks began at first light on 10 September: the town was almost surrounded and 88 mm guns began systematically destroying the buildings, wounding Lt\-Col Hillersdon. German tanks approached and infantry infiltrated through the tall crops around the town. As the pressure grew the battalion was gradually forced out of the town, all its anti\-tank guns being knocked out by 13\.00, then the [carriers](/wiki/Universal_Carrier "Universal Carrier") and [3\-inch mortars](/wiki/Ordnance_ML_3_inch_mortar "Ordnance ML 3 inch mortar") of Support Company. A field company of [Royal Engineers](/wiki/Royal_Engineers "Royal Engineers") became involved in the fighting, as well as the battalion's administrative staff, many of them armed with captured Italian and German weapons. By 16\.00 Maj Cedric Delforce, in temporary command, had few troops left, and the brunt of the defence fell on D Company, who had linked up with [201 Guards Bde](/wiki/22nd_Guards_Brigade "22nd Guards Brigade"). 3rd [Coldstream Guards](/wiki/Coldstream_Guards "Coldstream Guards") tried to fight their way forward to hold or regain the town, but they failed, and the remnants of 9th Royal Fusiliers withdrew and joined them at the blocked bridge at Fosso. One 37\-man platoon was cut off in the town and remained there for a couple of days, sniping at Germans during the confusion of British air raids on 13 and 14 September, otherwise staying quiet on the top floor of the building that became the German HQ. Most were eventually captured while searching for food and water. On 14 September 167 Bde was relieved and sent to [46th Division](/wiki/46th_Infantry_Division_%28United_Kingdom%29 "46th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)")'s supposedly quieter sector, but the remnant of 9th Royal Fusiliers with the Royal Engineers stayed to hold the Sta Lucia salient under the command of [23rd Armoured Bde](/wiki/23rd_Armoured_Brigade_%28United_Kingdom%29 "23rd Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)"). On 16 September it drove back an attack with the help of [64th (7th London) Field Regiment](/wiki/64th_%287th_London%29_Field_Regiment%2C_Royal_Artillery "64th (7th London) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery")'s [25\-pounders](/wiki/Ordnance_QF_25-pounder "Ordnance QF 25-pounder"). By 19 September, the battalion had extemporised new Support Company, armed with Italian [Breda machine guns](/wiki/Breda_M37 "Breda M37"), an [81mm mortar](/wiki/8_cm_Granatwerfer_34 "8 cm Granatwerfer 34") and a [75mm infantry gun](/wiki/7.5_cm_Infanteriegesch%C3%BCtz_37 "7.5 cm Infanteriegeschütz 37"). The advancing Eighth Army was now approaching, and the Salerno beachhead was no longer isolated: the Germans withdrew abruptly.Molony, Vol V, pp. 284, 291, 296, 310, 314, Map 19\.Parkinson, pp. 137–40\.


How did the battalion's position become isolated?