Rico Schacherl
July 29, 1943
The setting is the sleepy little Sicilian town of Parmesano and
its bridge over the Crostini River. Hoping to capture the bridge
intact, the armoured cars and carrier infantry of the 1st Royal
Dragoons dash ahead of 26th Armoured Brigade and The King's Own
Lightfoot Rifles -- who try their level best to keep up. Meanwhile
at the bridge, Captain Enrico Canneloni and his small force of
engineers and AA gunners are alone defending the bridge. From
Leonforte, however, 15 Panzergrenadier Division has dispatched
Kampfgruppe Schnitzelmeier, a mixed force of amoured cars, panzers,
assault guns and infantry, with all haste towards Parmesano to
prevent the British from crossing the Crostini. A messy scramble
ensues with each sides' forces arriving in dribs and drabs and
the battle swinging back and forth....