(during which time Major William Sidney of the 5th Battalion, Grenadier Guards was awarded the VC), both objectives, Carroceto station and "the Factory" fell to the Germans. With Penney's division having taken severe losses – some 1,500 men in 24 hours, in addition to the earlier losses – and being forced to give up ground which had been fought for, he immediately requested reinforcements from Lucas and the relationship between the two men, which was never cordial, deteriorated, with Lucas being distrustful of the British and Penney himself frequently being critical of the former, having no confidence in him and believing Lucas to be out of his depth. Lucas, however, eventually sent the US 45th Infantry Division on 11 February, although it failed to retake the lost ground. Five days later the Germans launched another major attack, with the intention being to push the Allies back behind the Lateral Road. Penney's division was by now placed in reserve, and the German attack fell primarily on the 45th Division, but, on 18 February, the 1st Battalion, Loyal Regiment, of the 2nd Brigade, then defending the flyover where the Lateral Road crossed the road and railway and Carroceto, and which so far had suffered relatively light casualties, was involved, repelling many numerous attacks. The next few days saw desperate fighting by scattered American, British and German units, but the Allied lines just managed to hold and stabilise their lines. On 17 February Penney, just returned to his caravan HQ after visiting the frontlines, was hit in the back by shellfire and evacuated to the rear. Alexander, who thought highly of Penney and was unwilling to lose him, ordered Major -General Gerald Templer, GOC of the newly arrived 56th (London) Infantry Division, and who Penney had succeeded as GOC of the 1st Division, to assume command of both divisions temporarily until Penney was sufficiently recovered to resume his command. Penney returned on 23 February, his wounds being deemed to be minor, although it was to effect him for the rest of his life, forcing his early retirement. By the time Penney resumed his role as GOC, the situation on the Anzio beachhead had changed, transforming from a series of short, sharp platoon or company-size battles, into a stalemate. Neither the Allies nor the Germans had the strength to sufficiently oust the other side, and although fighting continued, it was on a much smaller