Operation Infatuate II: Sherman tanks at Westkapelle

[Hanno Spoelstra]

The past few months, on and off, I have been researching the use of Sherman tanks during the landing at Westkapelle in November 1944, part of Operation Infatuate II or the battle for Walcheren Island.

The objective of this research is to document the sole surviving tank used during this Operation. It is very much a work in progress and I am posting my findings here so others can chime in - please add to or correct the information provided here.

For those who have access to Facebook, see my photo album "Sherman tanks at Westkapelle" which contains all the photos I have been able to find. I will post all of them, plus more, on here too in due time, but in a more sorted/ chronological order.

This will not be a full account of the Operation, as that has been described elsewhere in detail. I used the following sources to find as much as I could about the use of the Sherman tanks, plus other AFVs. I am hoping to identify as much as possible of them: WD census numbers, unit markings & names, crew names and actions they were involved in.

Sources:

[1] Story of the 79th Armoured Division from October 1942 to June 1945. Hamburg: BAOR, 1945. (See background review on this book.)

[2] Brooks, Richard: Walcheren 1944: Storming Hitler's island fortress. Osprey Publishing, 2011.

[3] Stacey, C.P. (Col.): The Victory Campaign: The Operations in North-West Europe, 1944-1945 (Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War, Volume III), 1966.

[4] Thompson, R.W.: The Eighty-Five Days: The Story Of The Battle Of The Scheldt. Hutchinson, 1957.

[5] Sabarly, Michel: various internet forums (including Maple Leaf Up Forum).


Victory-8.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

LCT 1005 "4 Apple":

• Sherman V Crab, RHODERICK DHU
• Sherman V Crab, Turret No.27
• Sherman V Crab
• Churchill AVRE SBG
• Churchill AVRE
• D7 Armoured Bulldozer

Sherman V Crab, T-212645, name RHODERICK DHU, Turret no.20, landed from LCT 1005 "4 Apple". This Sherman was commanded by Cpl. Leishman during the assault on Westkapelle.

It got stuck on the beach and drowned when the tide came in.

af7211829b5d7052d84771d886ea3d3aa16bca93f04f7e68ac560012dac7a40f.jpg
(Source)

Photographed in 1945, it's markings are all but obliterated:
be5ed0a52174ad1c772bad51c427466ad657c000ac3b6277a711a34d917f92d6.jpg
(Source)

View from the rear, note "4 APPLE" painted on the wading trunk:
c060f9e87792ce3eedc612bf73957bde29dbcbabfa3ab669798023b798c2dc00.jpg
(Source)

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

LCT 1005 "4 Apple":

• Sherman V Crab, RHODERICK DHU
• Sherman V Crab, Turret No.27
• Sherman V Crab
• Churchill AVRE SBG
• Churchill AVRE
• D7 Armoured Bulldozer

Another Sherman V Crab which landed from LCT 1005 "4 Apple" had Turret no.27. This also got stuck on the beach and drowned when the tide came in.

Pictured in 1945:
c66407f2-aee4-b4fc-9380-189e3d8b3549.jpg
(Source)

[Hanno Spoelstra]

A very good source of film is IWM Catalogue number COI 495 "WALCHEREN LANDINGS [Allocated Title]"

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ect/1060021679

Object description

Unedited film of Marine commandos and Norwegian troops attacking Westkapelle, Walcheren.

Full description

The correct sequence is distorted but the film features: 1. LCTs at sea, with some enemy shellfire landing about them. Naval vessels in the background. 2. LCTs disembarking troops and armoured equipment. 3. Troops advancing through sand dunes towards a burning house, whence come Germans carrying a flag of surrender. 4. Sherman tanks in action in the town, and being reloaded from a tracked supply vehicle. 5. Soldiers advancing warily through the town. They pass a Churchill. 6. Troops dug in and advancing in mutual support through a sparse wood. 7. A Typhoon circling over a wood - strafing and rocket attack. 8. Columns of surrendered German troops - one smiles into the camera, a German delaying to pick up his kit is gestured at with a gun. 9. Local populace greeting soldiers and parading and hoisting the Belgian flag. Other clips include: German notices warning of mines; a bunker called "Waldfrieden"; British troops relaxing and drinking from a water bottle; a soldier on a stretcher and one lying dead; armoured Red Cross vehicles; the Norwegian flag among troops' baggage, and rigged over a burnt-out vehicle; men with radio equipment; a Thompson SMG being field stripped; Bren gun firing; and a soldier firing and loading a captured Dreyse MG13.

It contains a lot of footage of the AFVs landing on the beach, and in action further north towards Domburg and the Black Hut area.

Some stills attached of one of the two AVREs which continued in operation. It was apparently named "MINOTAUR" and was part of the load of "CHERRY LCT 6".

43636891_2277137835864955_7146516394438295552_o.jpg 44889679_2277135945865144_6652103360168067072_o.jpg 44907349_2277135439198528_8264022745478594560_o.jpg 44880903_2277135105865228_4805442137862701056_o.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Some more stills from the films listed above:

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Sherman V, T-148829?, name WOLF OF BADENOCH, Turret No.10 was one of 1st Lothians and Border Yeomanry, A-sqn HQ's tanks. It was commanded by Major D.R.R. Pocock who was the Squadron OC. It did get ashore and gave sterling service to the Commando forces.

WOLF OF BADENOCH being resupplied at Domburg:
025021.jpg

WOLF OF BADENOCH driving trough Domburg:
025026.jpg 025046.jpg

Last two stills show Sherman V, T-147976, "COCK O'THE NORTH", Turret No. 11, of "A" Sqn HQ,
and WOLF OF BADENOCH, Turret No.10, in action in the dunes around Domburg:
025053.jpg 025041.jpg

[david moore]

This may be getting too much off subject - but as an anorak regarding British steam railway locomotives (as well as green vehicles!) the names on several of the tanks in this thread rang a bell with me. They are the names on some of the then latest express engines of the London & North Eastern Railway that served eastern Scotland from Kings Cross, London pre-war. Wolf of Badenoch and Cock O' The North were the latest P2 streamliners (see photo). Dandy Dinmont was a famous engine too. I'll bet the guys serving in the regiment were ex-railway staff - or maybe had just been keen trainspotters like so many Brit kids.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by david moore

This may be getting too much off subject - but as an anorak regarding British steam railway locomotives (as well as green vehicles!) the names on several of the tanks in this thread rang a bell with me. They are the names on some of the then latest express engines of the London & North Eastern Railway that served eastern Scotland from Kings Cross, London pre-war. Wolf of Badenoch and Cock O' The North were the latest P2 streamliners (see photo). Dandy Dinmont was a famous engine too. I'll bet the guys serving in the regiment were ex-railway staff - or maybe had just been keen trainspotters like so many Brit kids.

David, thank you for being a steam locomotive anorak (as well)! Always interesting to learn the source of the names tank crews used on their armoured mounts.

This begs the question: you would not happen to know a possible origin of the name "Argyll Roger", would you?

Thanks,
Hanno

[James P]

I have to say this is one great thread and study of the action and vehicles. What amazes me is when it was over the tanks where driven to a spot and essentially abandoned.

[David Herbert]

Great photos Hanno !

David

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by David Herbert

Great photos Hanno !

Thanks David!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Some stills attached of one of the two AVREs which continued in operation. It was apparently named "MINOTAUR" and was part of the load of "CHERRY LCT 6".

While my primary quest is to identify the Sherman tanks involved in Infatuate II, I found some more pictures featuring the Churchill tanks.

Attached are pictures of Churchill AVRE T69114/B. It had the marking "A3" on the rear of the turret bin. It was one of two AVREs which took part in the fighting on Walcheren after landing at Westkapelle. It is picture here left abandoned in the Zuidstraat (looking West), Westkapelle, July 1946.

Zuidstraat - Churchill AVRE.jpg

This picture shows the Zuidstraat looking East. One the left side of the road Churchill AVRE "A3" can be seen, behind it Sherman V Tank WOLF OF BADENOCH with another Sherman V Crab behind it. On the right side Sherman V Tank COCK O'THE NORTH, with a Sherman V Crab behind it.

21752012_1458040220941624_1583149368045392923_n.jpg

The other two pictures show it was left close to Sherman V gun tank, T-148829(?) "WOLF OF BADENOCH" Turret No. 10, 1LBY "A" Sqn HQ, carried by LCT "5 BRAMBLE".

na-afloop-tanks-Zuidstraat.jpg 0441.jpg

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

A very good source of film is IWM Catalogue number COI 495 "WALCHEREN LANDINGS [Allocated Title]"

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ect/1060021679



It contains a lot of footage of the AFVs landing on the beach, and in action further north towards Domburg and the Black Hut area.

I was watching this film carefully today (should have done that sooner …) and noticed some interesting details. One of them is that the last digit of the census number of Wolf of Badenoch is a 5:

Wolf of Badenoch.jpg
(this is a still from 8:25 minutes into the film)

That makes the number most likely T148325 by my reckoning, though it could also be T148325, T148825 or T143325 (in descending order of likelihood, in my opinion).

Also, there doesn’t appear to be a name on this side of the tank.

[MicS]

Originally Posted by Jakko Westerbeke

I was watching this film carefully today (should have done that sooner …) and noticed some interesting details. One of them is that the last digit of the census number of Wolf of Badenoch is a 5:

Attachment 114517
(this is a still from 8:25 minutes into the film)

That makes the number most likely T148325 by my reckoning, though it could also be T148325, T148825 or T143325 (in descending order of likelihood, in my opinion).

Also, there doesn’t appear to be a name on this side of the tank.

Great find of the last missing T-number of WOLF OF BADENOCH Jakko! I should also have looked at this clip more carefully sooner!

I believe the number is T-148025. See for example this photo:


No.10 '5 BRAMBLE' - rear right view - T14802x - FO039995.jpg

Michel

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Originally Posted by MicS

I believe the number is T-148025. See for example this photo:

I don’t think a 0 fits:

Sherman „Wolf of Badenoch” 31 juli 1946 B.jpg

There seems to be a “dent” on the left-hand side of the fourth digit that makes a 3 more likely than either a 0, IMHO (or, for that matter, a 6, an 8 or a 9).

I’m still wondering why the numbers are dark like this. My theory is the white paint has flaked off and either took the British paint with it, exposing American OD or British SCC 2 underneath, or the “shadows” are SCC 15 that hasn’t discoloured as much as the paint around it.

Then again, I would also love to know what the dark stain at the rear of the side plate is … I’m leaning to more paint from someone cleaning a brush, possibly a medium green (which might show up darker in black and white photos than an OD-like shade).

[MicS]

Yes, on that particular photo it appears that there might be a dent on the left side of the fourth digit, but none on its right, which would exclude the digit being a 3, and suggest a 9 or a 0. However, the dent on the left side is not visible on the first photo in my post #15 above:
http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...3&postcount=15
where the left side looks continuous, and not really apparent on the second, so my bet is still on a 0.

As for the dark colour of the digits, I think it's just the white paint ageing. The 'T' and first digit are still whitish, while the remaining digits have already turned dark. See also the white outline of turret #20 in post #2: part of it has turned dark.

Michel

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

LCT 1005 "4 Apple":

• Sherman V Crab, RHODERICK DHU
• Sherman V Crab, Turret no.27
• Sherman V Crab
• Churchill AVRE SBG
• Churchill AVRE
• D7 Armoured Bulldozer

The (as of yet) unidentified Sherman V Crab on LCT 1005 was commanded by Lieutenant S.A. Miller. This Crab got ashore first, but it got stuck when it tried to tow the second Crab "RHODERICK DHU" off the beach. It too got swamped by the incoming tide, rendering it useless.

Pictured in 1945:
f3b4a4e83f8846539960f9d8fbeb927a0fa46b9985cb65cfe26247ca6b20b487.jpg
(Source)


I do not know its name or Turret number, but it has a WD census number ending with “...53”:
794cdd81d5347576d5335ad1e35f8da6dea1437c807ca8edb63fb458274f6088.jpg
(Source)


The WD census number may be seen on the left-hand flail arm, but is too vague to read:
dezb 39989 cropped.JPG
(Source)

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

The (as of yet) unidentified Sherman V Crab on LCT 1005 was commanded by Lieutenant S.A. Miller. This Crab got ashore first, but it got stuck when it tried to tow the second Crab "RHODERICK DHU" off the beach. It too got swamped by the incoming tide, rendering it useless.

I do not know its name or Turret number, but it has a WD census number ending with “...53”:

The WD census number may be seen on the left-hand flail arm, but is too vague to read:

Just came across a new picture of locals posing in front of Lt. Miller's Sherman V Crab after WW2:

12371038_439805879551684_7362402940235078363_o.jpg

Source

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Not only tanks littered the area for years after the Operation: this picture shows two LCT's on the sea dike. They were broken up in situ in September 1949, five years after they stranded.

In the background is Radar Station W 154. In November 1944 this was one of the targets of the Commando's, who found it abandoned.

NL-HaNA_2.24.01.09_0_903-6340.jpg

Source: http://proxy.handle.net/10648/a8cf0a...8-003048976d84

[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

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

LCT 737 "5 Bramble":

• Sherman V Crab, DANDY DINMONT
• Sherman V Crab, Turret No.2
• Sherman V Tank, WOLF OF BADENOCH
• Churchill AVRE
• Churchill AVRE SBG
• D7 Armoured Bulldozer

Sherman V Crab, name DANDY DINMONT, Turret No.15. Photographed while unloading from LCT 737 "5 BRAMBLE". It was nicknamed MEG II (white handwriting on the front of the left flail jib) by its commander Sjt Ferguson in fond memory of his first tank MEG MERRILEES (source).

It was one of the Crabs which made it off the beach, but was swamped during the first night.

IWM (B 11631).jpg
© IWM (B 11631)


While the name and WD census number cannot be read, the nickname MEG can be seen as white handwriting on the front of the left flail jib. This picture was taken in 1945 when the DANDY DINMONT was standing in front of the wrecked doctor's house at the Zuidstraat. Its flail seems to have been damaged, or partly dismantled. Its turret has been traversed to the rear.
e72f3376bc301c3b822cd448d266308a5fbe592cc70596d917568574aca07302.jpg
(Source)


Later during 1945, DANDY DINMONT is still standing were it was left. Progress in rebuilding the village can be clearly seen: a narrow gauge railroad is laid in the middle of the street for transportation of the rubble and building materials. Many of the wrecked houses have been cleared. Meanwhile, the Crab lost it flail booms to the scrapper. The turret has been traversed to the left front quarter the the gun has been raised.
Zooming in on the photo reveals what must be its name and WD census number on the top left corner of the left hand hull side. It cannot be read, but with a little effort the turret No.15 could be seen on the right hand side of the turret.
NL-HaNA_2.24.01.03_0_900-5276.jpg gahetna 900-5276 cropped.JPG
(Source)


Circa 1948, it was photographed in Westkapelle with a young man on the turret. The turret has been traversed further to the left and the gun has been lowered. It's flail gear has been further dismantled and it has shed its left hand track. It has been moved to another location, as it is no longer in front of the doctor's house.
The Turret No. and name can still be read, but the WD census number is unreadable. Noteworthy is that the name is in the same spot as in the photos above. Construction details also match, so this must be DANDY DINMONT:
bb030053-c465-0bc3-8cd6-de90ed5707d6.jpg
(Source)

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

LCT 737 "5 Bramble":

• Sherman V Crab, DANDY DINMONT
• Sherman V Crab, Turret No.2
• Sherman V Tank, WOLF OF BADENOCH
• Churchill AVRE
• Churchill AVRE SBG
• D7 Armoured Bulldozer

Sherman V, T-148829?, name WOLF OF BADENOCH, Turret No.10 was one of 1st Lothians and Border Yeomanry, A-sqn HQ's tanks. It was commanded by Major D.R.R. Pocock who was the Squadron OC. It did get ashore and gave sterling service to the Commando forces.

One of only two Shermans left in battle-worthy condition, together with 2 Churchill AVREs, it played a considerable part in the Commando operations against the Domburg battery and also against the strongly fortified Black Hut area lying behind it. Between 2-8 November the two Sherman tanks fired 1,400 rounds of HE ammunition plus a large amount of AP shot. The accuracy of the shooting was outstanding, German guns in concrete emplacements being immobilised by shells fired through the gun slits: suitable tank positions were extremely difficult to find but fire from them was largely responsible for keeping down casualties to the assaulting troops. By 8 November the northern rim of the island was in British hands.

A Sqn Lothians tank at Domburg.JPG
(Source: [1])


After the Operation, it was left derelict in the Zuidstraat in Westkapelle with the other Sherman and Churchill tanks. In July 1946, it still proudly displays its turret number "10", while the hull side is adorned with random paint splashes. Could this be the result of a house painter cleaning his brushes?
More interesting is the WD census number which is harder to read. I deciphered it as T-148829, but would like confirmation from this or other sources.
af8aa57558f8e3cec7f88c146580eb227112f46dfcd61da963a64c255805e36f.jpg Sherman V No.10 cropped.JPG
(Source)


Note it still sports "5 BRAMBLE" on the wading trunking and turret no.10 can be clearly seen. It was photographed on 27 May 1947, by which time reconstruction of the village - which had been nearly obliterated by the bombing and flooding - had been started. Houses were reconstructed while the derelict tanks still lined the streets.
7f9c8fe9209482ba13289e922bc47872e6b079a125edc774fbe4bac01b350ce7.jpg
(Source)

[MicS]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Sherman V, T-148829?, name WOLF OF BADENOCH, Turret No.10 (...)
More interesting is the WD census number which is harder to read. I deciphered it as T-148829, but would like confirmation from this or other sources.

Great thread Hanno!

My take on No.10's WD number would be T-148028. The T-148x2x part is quite clear, only the fourth and sixth digits being more difficult to make out.

For the fourth digit, the following two photos should be of help:

The left vertical half appears to be rounded and uninterrupted here:
No.10 Gun tank - T-1480xx - gahetna.nl 900-4074.jpg
Source

Same applies to its right vertical half:
No.10 Gun tank - T-148028- - ZB 39995.jpg
Source

The sixth and last digit is more debatable, looking as it does like a possible 8, 9 (see first photo above) or even 0. On the last photo above, I see both its left and right vertical sides as uninterrupted and with a slight inflexion. The following photo is inconclusive, but still compatible with an 8:
No.10 Gun tank - T-148x2x - NIMH 2001_N0000048-09.jpg
Source

Unfortunately, I have not found any of these possible numbers (T-148028, T-148029, T-148828 or T-148829) in the 1 LOTHIANS War Diary. Maybe one of them appears in some other documents, as suggested by Mike above.

Michel

[David Herbert]

I see the fourth digit as a 3, and the 6th digit as an 8. I wonder if T-148328 shows up in the war diary ?

David

[Mike Cecil]

Do the Census No. lists for Brit Shermans still exist, maybe at the Tank Museum? These should at least define what number/number range went with which vehicle type (gun tank, flail, etc) which may help to narrow down the possibilities.

Mike

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

The armoured support element totalled 24 armoured vehicles:

• 2 Sherman V gun tanks
• 10 Sherman V Crabs
• 8 Churchill AVREs: 4 with SBG bridges, 2 with fasciness
• 4 D7 Armoured Bulldozers

When summarising this thread, one can conclude that of the 12 Shermans committed to this Operation, 2 of the Sherman gun tanks landed and went into action.
Of the Crabs, 3 did not land. Of the 7 that did land, 3 were bellied on the landing beach. While contemporary sources mention either 2 or 3 of the Crabs made it off the beach, this analysis proves in fact 4 Crabs made it off the beach and into the village.

For now I would ask if anyone can add any more identifiers for the Sherman tanks, like WD census numbers, unit markings & names. And let's not forget about the crews!

Last picture for today is this one from 1946, showing three Crabs in relative position to each other in the Zuidstraat.
From left to right: Sherman V Crab T-148656, with Sherman V Crab DANDY DINMONT behind it, and Sherman V Crab Turret No.2:
4d0a6c46c6aa49e634863f5afbd33b25f3f891a996b6911d96b9ac45a104bc18.jpg
(Source)

The photographer is looking East, as the light house can be seen in the background. This lighthouse is an iconic landmark as it was built on top of an old church tower. Therefore it is located almost 1 kilometre inland, rather than directly at the seafront.

I will provide more detail on the landing and subsequent actions later. It was a harsh Operation - the Commandos involved found it much harder fighting than during Operation Overlord!

Thanks,
Hanno

[maple_leaf_eh]

Superb effort Hanno!

The number of rounds fired by the surviving gun tanks begs a second question - where did they get it all? The combat load of a single Sherman 75 was not in the thousands! Did the remaining crews salvage all consumables to keep the operating tanks firing? Most likely. How did other supplies get forward? By LSTs or other amphibious craft? What sort of "ADREP" or administration report did the OC and his NCOs make up and send backwards? Interesting questions.

[Mike Cecil]

Hanno,

Nice work. Great images. Clearly much work has gone into this research thus far.

Are the Ops Report and Unit War Diaries for the various units involved, resident in the National Archives at Kew? You may find the titles at least on line, even if the contents are not. They may provide some illumination of the decision not to undertake any form of battlefield recovery of the stranded/swamped AFVs, at least, and possibly list losses by Census Number.

Others with more knowledge of the Brit archival system can doubtless inform us foreigners of the likelihood of the above.

Capturing Antwerp was one thing: clearing the Boche from the approaches was much, much more difficult.

Mike

[David Dunlop]

Hanno.

You mention that several of the various Shermans made it successfully off the beach and/or into town only to be swamped shortly thereafter. Was this an unusual tidal phenomenon or was the area deliberately flooded by the German troops?

David

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh

Superb effort Hanno!

The number of rounds fired by the surviving gun tanks begs a second question - where did they get it all? The combat load of a single Sherman 75 was not in the thousands! Did the remaining crews salvage all consumables to keep the operating tanks firing? Most likely. How did other supplies get forward? By LSTs or other amphibious craft? What sort of "ADREP" or administration report did the OC and his NCOs make up and send backwards? Interesting questions.

Thanks Terry! The troops and tanks were resupplied by LVTs doing several resupply runs. The LVTs were indispensable in this operation, the Weasels were not suited for the strong currents and were all lost.
I have not read about the crews salvaging all consumables from the swamped tanks, but that sounds like the thing they would have done.

This is Sherman V, WOLF OF BADENOCH, Turret No. 10, being resupplied by an LVT, most likely at Domburg. WOLF OF BADENOCH was carried ashore by LCT 737, hence the marking "5 BRAMBLE" on the deep wading trunk at the back:
971C8983-2F4D-4A20-B8CF-40754C508DF2.jpg

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

Nice work. Great images. Clearly much work has gone into this research thus far.

Are the Ops Report and Unit War Diaries for the various units involved, resident in the National Archives at Kew? You may find the titles at least on line, even if the contents are not. They may provide some illumination of the decision not to undertake any form of battlefield recovery of the stranded/swamped AFVs, at least, and possibly list losses by Census Number.

Others with more knowledge of the Brit archival system can doubtless inform us foreigners of the likelihood of the above.

Capturing Antwerp was one thing: clearing the Boche from the approaches was much, much more difficult.

Thanks Mike! Indeed, and as per Stacey (p. 407) "The costly opposed landing at Westkapelle became the most controversial portion of the whole Scheldt battle." Infatuate II was a true amphibious operation, involving Navy, Air Force and Army to get the job done.

I have not been able to locate the war diary via the National Archives. I hope to read it some day, meanwhile Michel apparently has.

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

You mention that several of the various Shermans made it successfully off the beach and/or into town only to be swamped shortly thereafter. Was this an unusual tidal phenomenon or was the area deliberately flooded by the German troops?

David, the dykes of the island of Walcheren were bombed by Bomber Command. The flooding was to immobilise the German troops, if not to take them out of action. From 17 September through 30 October, Bomber Command had flown 2219 sorties against Walcheren and dropped 10,219 tons of bombs (Stacey, p.411).

One of the largest breaches, the one at Westkapelle, was also used as a landing beach as it provided access to the island without have to scale the huge sea dyke.

The pic below shows how the village of Westkapelle and the area behind it being swamped each time the tide came in.

Hanno

3d79209a2a685d52fbe0d8bb4d9b44d9896b387fd09ceaf969bda67b69c2af56.jpg
(Source)