Infatuate II

The last German stronghold on the Scheidt Estuary was the island of Walcheren. Linked by a narrow causeway to South Beveland, its batteries were still a threat to Allied transports. Agile minesweepers were already plying their trade in the estuary, …

1944-11-01

R222

The last German stronghold on the Scheidt Estuary was the island of Walcheren. Linked by a narrow causeway to South Beveland, its batteries were still a threat to Allied transports. Agile minesweepers were already plying their trade in the estuary, but no freighter would dare the passage till the guns of Walcheren were silent. The only land bridge to Walcheren was 1200 meters long and 40 meters wide and "as straight as a gun barrel". In spite of the most heroic exertions of the Glascow Highlanders (of the British 52nd Infantry Division) and the 5th Canadian Bde (made up of the Black Watch of Canada, the Calgary Highlanders, and Le Regiment de Maisonneuve), the causeway could not be forced. Thus, on an overcast November 1st, the Walcheren amphibious invasion was launched. British heavy bombers had breached the island's dyke, flooding much of the interior (along with many of the defensive batteries), but leaving a dry rim of towns and coastal guns. The town of Westkapelle, and its nearby battery W15, formed the westernmost German guardian to the Scheidt. The 4th Commando Bde, supported by specialized armored equipment of the British 79th Armored Division, and guided by the famous Westkapelle lighthouse, would sail into the face of the waiting guns in order to destroy them

Walcheren Island, Holland

The Battle of the Scheldt in World War II was a series of military operations led by the First Canadian Army, with Canadian, Polish and British units attached, to open up the shipping route to Antwerp so that its port could be used to supply the Allies in north-west Europe. Under acting command of the First Canadian's Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds, the battle took place in northern Belgium and southwestern Netherlands from October 2 to November 8, 1944.

Wikipedia: Battle of the Scheldt

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British