Operation Infatuate II: Sherman tanks at Westkapelle

[James P]

Hanno, I just have to say what a great thread this is and thanks for the posts and pics.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by James P

Hanno, I just have to say what a great thread this is and thanks for the posts and pics.

My pleasure James, I hope to add more information as research progresses. Having lived in the area the effects of WW2 on that heavily contested area has made a lasting impression on me, even though that was 30-40 years after the war.

It was living in the province of Zeeland that sparked my interest in the Canadian Army overseas during WW2, and thus my eventual involvement in this site: http://www.mapleleafup.net/about.html

Hanno

[David Dunlop]

Hanno.

Was Radar Station W 154 repurposed to another use after the war or demolished? The large structure in the photo looks to have sustained some shell damage, but I have seen worse turned into other things post war.

David

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Was Radar Station W 154 repurposed to another use after the war or demolished? The large structure in the photo looks to have sustained some shell damage, but I have seen worse turned into other things post war.

David,

Together with with other bunkers along the sea dyke, it must have been demolished. Most of them were heavily damaged by the Allied bombardments anyway. After the dyke was breached in 1944, a lot of work was put in rebuilding and strengthening them. This was vital for the population to be able to reclaim the land and start farming again. Anything on the dykes was demolished to ensure their integrity. The demolished bunkers were repurposed, e.g. the path which runs from Oranjezon in Oostkapelle up to Westkapelle through the dunes has been paved with their rubble.

Bunkers more inland were most often left undisturbed, here is an example. Check that site for more traces of war on Walcheren, there is still plenty left to be seen today.

A number of caissons from the Normandy Mulberry harbours were brought in to close the breach. The picture below show the breach just after it was closed, in the foreground remains of a Bofors gun and LVT 4 can still be seen. Once the gap was closed, the dyke was built up further.

Hanno

94cc5594-2438-f1ae-a745-f9b5b940a65e.jpg

[MicS]

The remains of a gun are not a Bofors (40 mm), but a Polsten (20 mm) gun mounted on the LVT, a quite common modification to give LVsT more firepower.

Michel

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by MicS

The remains of a gun are not a Bofors (40 mm), but a Polsten (20 mm) gun mounted on the LVT, a quite common modification to give LVsT more firepower.

Michel,

Of course, that’s a 20-mm Polsten like on the attached picture. Should have looked better.

Do you have access to the 1 LBY war diaries?

Thanks,
Hanno

3933B4F3-910E-4D49-A239-AFB356CE0F4B.jpeg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

On this day, 74 years ago, Today, Allied troops landed on the heavily defended Walcheren island in the Netherlands. The island was attacked on two flanks. Infatuate II was the operation from the west targetting Westkapelle. According to the commandos involved the operation was "so tough, that by comparison the Normandy landing was like a tea party". Despite heavy losses, both military and civilian, the battle for the Scheldt opened up the route to the port of Antwerp.

At Westkapelle the Commandos were supported by the Royal Navy and armoured vehicles from the 79th Armoured Division: 10 Sherman Crabs, 2 Sherman gun tanks, 8 Churchill AVREs and 4 Armoured Bulldozers. The losses in armour, plus 15 Buffaloes due to mines, shelling and bogging down would be high, but the few surviving vehicles proved decisive in driving the enemy from their positions.

The video “Commandos Strike at Walcheren” shows some of these AFVs in action, notably the two Sherman gun tanks and two Churchill AVREs. This rare footage is a testament to the braveness of Allied soldiers and the capabilities of their humble tanks.

Commandos Strike at Walcheren

2683481D-94EC-4B23-9D85-F146606AFF2F.jpeg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

A number of caissons from the Normandy Mulberry harbours were brought in to close the breach. The picture below show the breach just after it was closed, in the foreground remains of an LVT4 with Polsten gun can still be seen. Once the gap was closed, the dyke was built up further.

During the closure of the gap, an M29C Weasel was dragged out. Many Weasels sank while trying to cross the gap, they were worthless in the fast flowing seawater.

The crawler tractor which is used to drag out the Weasel is most likely each-military as well.

NL-HaNA_2.24.10.02_0_120-1155_1.jpg.jpg Weasel Westakapelle.jpg
Source: http://proxy.handle.net/10648/af2323...8-003048976d84


Studying another picture of the gap pictured shortly after the battle show an overturned Weasel trapped under the steel beach defences:

NL-HaNA_2.24.01.03_0_900-2004.jpg Weasel Westkapelle shoreline.jpg
Source: http://proxy.handle.net/10648/ac053c...8-003048976d84

[Hanno Spoelstra]

In November 1944, the British disembarked three D7 Armoured Bulldozers. Two of the four Armoured Dozers fell victim to mines ashore, the fourth did not disembark (LCT Damson and its load were too damaged to land at Westkapelle, and diverted to Ostend, Belgium).

2019-10-05-rdMAG1-Landing_bij_Westkapelle_op_-3-FC_web.jpg

Only after the war ended in May 1945, enough resources could be freed up to reconstruct the dyke. This was done by combining the techniques of traditional Dutch dyke building and heavy earth moving equipment brought in by the Allies. The dyke at Westkapelle was closed on 12 October.

1492.jpg

Two of those bulldozers were buried under an emergency dyke. When the final dyke was completed, the two dozers were excavated one year later by the contracting company "Nieuwenhuyse and De Braal". They were kept working till 1965.

This photo shows the excavation of a bulldozer in 1946:
1529.jpg

In 2016 Henk Meijer donated a Caterpillar D4 to the Liberation Museum in Nieuwdorp. This is presented as possibly one of the dozers which was buried in the dyke.
Obviously, this dozer is not one of those which landed in November 1944.

16-12-06-bulldozer2.jpg

Source: http://westkapelle-beeldbank.nl/, https://www.bevrijdingsmuseumzeeland...caterpillar-d4 and others

[Willem de Braal]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

In November 1944, the British disembarked three D7 Armoured Bulldozers. Two of the four Armoured Dozers fell victim to mines ashore, the fourth did not disembark (LCT Damson and its load were too damaged to land at Westkapelle, and diverted to Ostend, Belgium).

Attachment 110350

Only after the war ended in May 1945, enough resources could be freed up to reconstruct the dyke. This was done by combining the techniques of traditional Dutch dyke building and heavy earth moving equipment brought in by the Allies. The dyke at Westkapelle was closed on 12 October.

Attachment 110348

Two of those bulldozers were buried under an emergency dyke. When the final dyke was completed, the two dozers were excavated one year later by the contracting company "Nieuwenhuyse and De Braal". They were kept working till 1965.

This photo shows the excavation of a bulldozer in 1946:
Attachment 110347

In 2016 Henk Meijer donated a Caterpillar D4 to the Liberation Museum in Nieuwdorp. This is presented as possibly one of the dozers which was buried in the dyke.
Obviously, this dozer is not one of those which landed in November 1944.

Attachment 110349

Source: http://westkapelle-beeldbank.nl/, https://www.bevrijdingsmuseumzeeland...caterpillar-d4 and others

Dear Hanno,

Wim de Braal, which recovered in 1946 the two D6A armored dozers was my grandfather.
We bought this week with my brother a D6A with serial nr. 1T3038
Requested information, regarding serial nr. to CAT visitors center in the US. And waiting.
Wondering if you could give us more info?

Best regards,
Willem de Braal

[ozm29c]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

During the closure of the gap, an M29C Weasel was dragged out. Many Weasels sank while trying to cross the gap, they were worthless in the fast flowing seawater.

The crawler tractor which is used to drag out the Weasel is most likely each-military as well.
Source: http://proxy.handle.net/10648/af2323...8-003048976d84

Hanno,
Your photo would explain where this weasel came from. This photo is from a collection of photos circulated years ago showing the remains of a weasel being extracted from the sand. Cheers John W.

Buried weasel.JPG

[Patrice DEBUCQUOY]

Hi Hanno,

The armoured Cat in the photo you posted is a D6, not a D7 (the exhaust arrangement is a clue to part them).

Cheers,
Patrice.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by ozm29c

Your photo would explain where this weasel came from. This photo is from a collection of photos circulated years ago showing the remains of a weasel being extracted from the sand.

John, indeed this Weasel was dug up at Westkapelle in 1994. More info to follow later.

Hanno

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Studying another picture of the gap pictured shortly after the battle show an overturned Weasel trapped under the steel beach defences:

Attachment 110346

There’s also an LVT (2) in that photo, I just noticed. Zoom in on the area to the left of the rightmost bunker in the distance:

LVT (2).jpg

Also a number of LVTs in the distance at the left of the photo, near Erika:

LVTs.jpg

These latter ones also appear in another photo taken across the Gap, with what I think is another armoured bulldozer:

Buffalo's en D7A bij Erika (Nationaal Archief 2.24.01.03 900-2001).jpg

Zoomed in:

LVTs and bulldozer.jpg