Hovattala rock wall

The Häme Cavalry Regiment’s two squadrons arrived at the site on the evening of 29 July 1944 after receiving reinforcements. The formation was named Task Force Sirama after its commander, Major Mauno Sirama. 

A couple of days earlier, scouts of the Finnish 3rd Border Jaeger Battalion who had been dispatched to the village of Hattuvaara had noticed an approaching enemy force that could constitute a threat. Sirama's formation was ordered to move from Hovattala to engage the enemy in the area of Sikrenvaara and Kiukoinen. 

After a devotional service held at the edge of a farm field near the rock on 29 July, the troops departed on a cross-country march at 22:00. 

The light summer night made progress at least a bit easier for the men, who struggled through extremely difficult boggy terrain for most of the way. The 1st Squadron veered toward Sikrenvaara, while the 2nd Squadron headed to Kiukoinen less than two kilometres to the east. 

The first clash occurred when the 1st Squadron came into contact with the Russian forces at 02:00 on 30 July . The 2nd Squadron received its baptism of fire in Ilomantsi sector two hours later.