It formed a 2nd Line battalion (2/17th Londons) that also went to France, but later served at Salonika and in the Sinai and Palestine campaign before returning to the Western Front in the closing stages of the war.

Blade Force was based on the tanks of 17th/21st Lancers and included B Company of 10th RB along with detachments of armoured cars (B Squadron, Derbyshire Yeomanry), artillery, engineers and transport, all under the command of Colonel Richard Hull.

[13][14] B Company took no further part in operations until 21 December when it went back in the line at 'Banana Ridge' when the enemy threatened the Allied positions at Medjez el-Bab.

The rest of 10th Rifle Brigade commanded by Lt-Col Adrian Gore had landed at Bône on 7 December, and bivouacked outside the town to escape the nightly bombing raids.

The battalion then made a two-day journey to Testour, and deployed first at Sidi Ayed on 24 December, then at Bou Arada on 2 January 1943.

On 10 January the Germans ambushed a Yeomanry troop at dawn as they took up their observation post on 'Two Tree Hill, and then began to take over a neighbouring ridge that dominated Bou Arada.

Next day D Company riding the tanks of a squadron of 17th/21st Lancers attacked Two Tree Hill, to find the Germans holding strong positions hidden on the reverse slope.

Argoub el Hanach (Point 315) was a similar feature to Two Tree Hill, and B and C Companies occupied it on 17–18 January Before they were fully established they saw a heavy column from 10th Panzer Division drive past them to attack Bou Araba as part of Operation Eilbote I ('Courier I').

Cut off from the rest of the battalion, the two companies played little part in the action, in which the German thrust at Bou Arada was thrown back, but they did lay some mines across the panzers' line of retreat.

Next day the whole of 10th RB took up position on Argoub el Hanach, and came under heavy shellfire while the action swirled around in the valley below for the next three weeks.

[15][16] On 19 February the Axis launched a major attack on the US forces at Kasserine Pass, south of 26th Armoured Bde's positions, and made rapid progress.

Next day Axis forces began advancing over the heathland towards Thala: the low ridges facing them were held by the tanks of 17th/21st Lancers and the rest of 2nd Lothians & Border Horse, supported by C Company 10th RB, F Bty RHA and 450th Bty from 71st (West Riding) Field Regiment, RA, later joined by the rest of 10th RB.

However, towards evening the 16th/5th Lancers with A Company's scout platoon found a way round the left flank of the enemy anti-tank screen positioned on hillocks.

The rest of 10th RB had to wait under shellfire while this action was carried out, but next day it was able to take part in the pursuit; 16th/5th Lancers and A Company caught the rear of 10th Panzer Division and destroyed a number of tanks.

The following day A Company was attacked by dive-bombers but the rest of the battalion rounded up numerous prisoners before the German tanks and anti-tank guns established a new line.

At first 6th Armoured Division faced determined opposition and difficult ground, but gained 10 miles (16 km) in the day, with 10th RB following up through minefields and shelling.

The whole of 6th Armoured Division's infantry brigade (1st Guards Bde) was sent up to assault the town, but 2nd Lothians and Border Horse managed to force their way through along the shore.

Adrian Gore left 10th RB on promotion to brigadier on 18 February 1944, and Major Richard Fyffe from C Company took over temporary command.

on 7 April the battalion was sent up to hold a piece of the line opposite San Angelo, south of Monte Cassino, under 2nd Parachute Bde.

On 25 May it was back on the road, passing through a gap in the Hitler Line made by the Canadians, until it reached the Melfa, where the bridge was blocked by a knocked-out tank and B Company suffered casualties.

On 29 May the enemy fell back again, allowing the Lothians and Border Horse to follow up Route 6 to Arce, where 10th RB was ordered to cross the river and capture Fontana Liri.

10th Rifle Brigade was called to take the lead on 4 June, and it had to struggle through traffic and blocked roads to catch up with the armour, who were held up at a blown bridge.

The division now advanced up the Tiber Valley along Route 4, meeting a rearguard at Mentana, which 10th RB and B Sqn Derbyshire Yeomanry were ordered to outflank.

In the first attack 10th RB was tasked with seizing Monte Lacugnano: A and B Companies succeeded in reaching this, but in the dark they had bypassed many German parties, and after daybreak they came under fire from all directions.

However, the seizure decided the Germans to evacuate Perugia, and the rest of the brigade pressed on over the following nights to clear the hills dominating the town.

Lieutenant-Col Southby had been evacuated sick, and after a short period under Maj N.C. 'Bobby' Selway, Lt-Col Fyffe returned to command the battalion on 30 August.

On 27 September 26th Armoured Bde attempted to advance from the pass, with 10th RB in support, but the vehicles remained stuck on the road in appalling weather for three days before the operation was called off.

10th Rifle Brigade was established on Monte Capello, dominating the valley below, and began a series of aggressive patrols in the direction of Monteloro.

Although winter weather slowed all operations, Eighth Army opened an offensive against the line of the River Lamone in December.

[38][39] By Spring 1945 the Allied forces in Italy were suffering a manpower crisis and a number of units were broken up to provide reinforcements for others.