Crossing the IJssel River
The following is from David Bercuson’s book “The Patricias”:
“The battle opened on the afternoon of 11 April with the 3rd Canadian Division forcing a crossing near Deventer. When that was accomplished and the right flank of 1st Canadian Division secured, the Patricias and the Seaforths led their division across the IJssel, some five kilometres south of Deventer, attacking on a two-company front. British Buffaloes, large tracked amphibious vehicles, carried them across the river. Sydney Frost, in command of D Company, later recorded the moment:
‘April 11 – 1430 hours. Dog Company quickly loads on the Buffaloes. We’ve practised this so many times we can do it blindfolded. I speak to the platoon commanders and wish them luck. The Buffaloes roar into life and fill the woods with their heavy fumes. The great beasts snort and lurch forward to the river. I look at my watch – 1530 hours. In [thirty] minutes the smoke screen will start. It’s a fine day for smoke, just a light breeze. Ten minutes to smoke – five minutes. We emerge from the woods. The artillery opens up. Shells drifts across the whole front, completely shielding us from enemy observation.’
The Buffaloes were into the water and across the river in minutes. The Germans, who had not expected an attack from across the IJssel were taken by surprise.”
This is from Farley Mowat’s “The Regiment”;
“At 1000 hours on April 12, the Regiment (Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment) tasted action in Northern Europe for the first time. Loaded aboard Water Buffalos (a species of amphibious tank), the troops were ferried swiftly across the Ijssel River close to Zutphen. There was no enemy opposition, but this did not detract from the excitement of the hour. The very prelude to the battle, even before it had been joined, was enough to surprise the men from Italy.
There were the Buffalos; ponderous armoured carriers that took water obstacles in their stride. Men marvelled at the safe and effortless crossing of the river.
And overhead; not just a single flight of war-weary Kittyhawks against the German Army, but an endless stream of aircraft – a ceaseless, returning, flowing stream.
And the armour; not just a single squadron of worn old Shermans, but an entire reptilian army of fighting tanks, armoured troop carriers, self-propelled guns, flame-throwing tanks, bridging tanks, mine-clearing tanks, bulldozer tanks and many other strange and novel types.
And the guns; there was no ammunition shortage here. The fire of division and corps artillery was thickened into a steel mattress of destruction by the guns of the army and the army group; by batteries of rocket projectors; by regiments of heavy anti-aircraft artillery no longer needed against the defunct Luftwaffe, and throwing their airburst shells over the flat farm lands to reach down, viciously, into the slit-trenches of the enemy.”
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