T H E C O V E N A N T E R
I believe that 156 Brigade enjoyed this already constructed their “Atlantic Wall”
visit; the sort of feeling that comes from at on both sides of the ScheIdt estuary so,
‘long last’ being able to repay a little of the for the moment the harbour of liberated
friendship and hospitality given to them by Antwerp was useless to the Allied Forces.
the people of Walcheren over the many years The Canadians and Polish had to fight fierce
since 1944. The Dutch just don’t forget, it is battles near the Gent-Bruges Canal and
a sort of duty to them given to the Regiment the Leie Canal in order to be able to form
in great friendship. We then hope that while bridgeheads. The march towards eastern
we may no longer be able to travel as easily Zealand-Flanders seemed much easier. On
as we used to that our name will continue 15 October the frontline ran from Zeebrugge
to be remembered and that our friends who in the West along the Leopold Canal and
are buried near the battleground of sixty the Braakman towards Terneuzen and from
and more years ago will still be looked after there along the ScheIdt towards Antwerp.
by good Dutch children. Our sincere thanks Shortly after, the Canadian 1st Army,
to Walcheren folk. which was tasked with freeing the Scheidt
Finally, a short but special thanks to Nellek estuary, attacked the new German line of
in Holland, to the Provost here in Hamilton defence. The Canadians were now under the
and a very special thanks to Glenys Grant command of Lieutenant-General Simonds,
of Larkhall for she on her own put together a very vigorous man, who had replaced the
just the kind of visit that was needed. It was ill Crerar at the end of September. From
truly hard work but she did it in great style Antwerp they marched to the Kreekrakdam,
and we all enjoyed it very much indeed.
and further attacks were carried out to the
West across the Leopold canal. However,
The Battle of the Scheldt
in both sectors they met strong German
Estuary
resistance. The Germans had an especially
strong fortress in the partly flooded polders
of western Zealand-Flanders A combined
After the disappointment of Operation
Canadian attack from Terneuzen and from
Market Garden the Allied Forces turned
behind the Leopold Canal (Operation
their attention to opening the ScheIdt
Switchback) forced the Germans back on
estuary. Montgomery’s intent to execute a
the line Breskens-Schoondijke-Oostburg-
fast and concentrated push into the heart
Sluis. Not until 1 November, after a severe
of Germany by a surprise attack on Arnhem
battle lasting for days, in which the civilian
had failed. At this point . Eisenhower
population also suffered great losses, was
re-emphasised the importance of the
the last town in this sector liberated by the
availability of Antwerp as a supply harbour
Canadians, by then supported by a British
for the Allied Forces. At fIrst Montgomery
brigade.
continued to display his stubborn character
In the meantime the German troops on
but in the end he compromised.
North and South-Beveland and on Walcheren
In September 1944 the Canadian 1st Army,
were cut off on the eastern side because of
led by Lieutenant General Crerar, captured
the liberation of Woensdrecht on 16 October.
several places along the Channel coast and
More then a week later the attack on South-
in Western Belgium. While the British 2nd
Beveland was launched, also carried out by
Army followed a more eastern route towards
Canadians and British. Operation Vitality
Antwerp, the Canadians conquered Dieppe,
was a direct attack over the Kreekrakdam,
Oostende, Ghent and Bruges at a great pace.
and Operation Vitality comprised a landing
Le Havre, Boulogne and Calais proved to
of amphibious craft near Baarland. On 28
be more difficult, but during the course
October the Allied Forces built a temporary
of September the German resistance was
bridge next to the destroyed bridges over
also broken in these places. At this point
the Canal through South Beveland. A day
they had a chain of major harbours on the
later both parts of the attack line met each
Channel coast at their disposal. However,
other near Gravenpolder. The town of Goes
the free passage to Antwerp continued to
and the western part of South Beveland were
be of essential importance to the Allies due
then liberated relatively easily.
to the capacity and strategic location of this
Only Walcheren remained to be liberated.
seaport. The Germans were also aware of
On this peninsula the Germans had a series
this.
of artillery batteries, concrete bunkers,
General Von Zangen, who skilfully
machine gun nests and other enforcements.
withdrew his 1st Army (almost 90,000 men)
With the aim oflimiting German
back to the North, settled the German 64th
manoeuvre the Allied Forces decided to
Infantry Division in Zealand, Flanders, and
flood Walcheren before launching their
the 70th Infantry Division on Walcheren
attack. After the civilian population was
and South-Beveland. The Germans had
warned of the coming danger by leaflets,

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