Ram Badger (with Wasp Mk II Flame Thrower)

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Using this thread and other sources I made a short write-up for a Keep Them Rolling magazine. One of the upcoming events will pass through Putten, so they wanted to publish this iconic photo:


"A Ram Badger flame-thrower of the Badger Troop, Headquarters, 5th Canadian Armoured Brigade. This was one of four Ram Badgers in this Troop. It was commanded by Lt. W.L. McCollum (C.A.C.) from 5 to 19 April 1945. Lt. McCollum can be seen in the top hatch while his Badger was photographed when passing through Putten, The Netherlands, on 18 April 1945.
This rare picture of a Ram Badger in action was taken during “Operation Cleanser”. During this Operation the First Canadian Corps would make a quick thrust north to the IJsselmeer. The 5th Canadian Amoured Brigade used their Badger Troop to support its 2nd, 5th and 9th Armoured Regiments.
Part of this operation was an attack on Voorthuizen by the 9th Armoured Regiment (The British Columbia Dragoons) on 16 April. During the early hours of the 17th, elements of the German 6th Parachute Division, tried to escape westward through Voorthuizen. They were beaten back with heavy casualties, the Dragoon’s tanks being ably assisted by a Ram Badger flame-thrower of the Badger Troop.
On the morning of the 18th German opposition ended, which was holding open a corridor along the IJsselmeer's southern shore. The 5th Armoured Regiment (8th Princess Louise's (New Brunswick) Hussars), assisted by the Westminsters and the Dutch Resistance, quickly penetrated to the centre of Putten, while their reconnaissance troop reached the IJsselmeer at 10:35 a.m. "

LAC PA1311031_ Tank Museum.jpg Victory-13.jpg

Photo source: Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-131031
Link to source: http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/ourl/...3Apam&lang=eng


Map source: Colonel C.P. Stacey; The Victory Campaign Volume III: The Victory Campaign The Operations in North-West Europe, 1944-1945 (Ottawa, 1960). Chapter XXI: The 1st Corps in the Western Netherlands 1-22 April 1945
Link to source: https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/...ictory-21.html