Terrible Victory

by Mark Zuehlke

  26: A FINE PERFORMANCE

  1 George Blake, Mountain and Flood: The History of the 52nd (Lowland) Division,1939–1946 (Glasgow: Jackson, Son & Co., 1950), 92.

  2 Col. C.P. Stacey, The Victory Campaign: The Operations in North-West Europe, 1944–1945, vol. 3 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1960), 407.

  3 Captain J.C. Dorward, “The Westkapelle Assault on Walcheren,” RG24, vol. 20339, Library and Archives Canada, 9.

  4 Ibid., 3.

  5 Ibid., 9.

  6 Ibid., 10.

  7 Ibid., 12.

  8 “Report on No. 4 Commando in Flushing Area,” 693.013(d1), Directorate of Heritage and History, Department of National Defence, 5–9.

  9 Ibid., 5–6.

  10 Hilary St. George Saunders, The Green Beret: The story of the Commandos, 1940–1945 (London: Michael Joseph, 1951), 298.

  11 Report No. 188 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: “Canadian Participation in the Operations in North-West Europe–Part VI: Canadian Operations, 1 Oct–8 Nov, The Clearance of the Scheldt Estuary,” Department of National Defence, 7 April, 1948, 109.

  12 Stacey, 411–12.

  13 G.W.L. Nicholson, The Gunners of Canada, 2 (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1972), 374.

  14 Stacey, 417.

  15 Ibid., 413–14.

  16 J.L. Moulton, Battle for Antwerp: The Liberation of the City and the Opening of the Scheldt, 1944 (New York: Hippocrene Books, 1978), 179.

  17 Kenneth Edwards, Operation Neptune (London: Collins, 1946), 281–82.

  18 Nicholson, 375.

  19 “The Clearance of the Scheldt Estuary,” 128.

  20 James Dunning, The Fighting Fourth: No. 4 Commando at War, 1940–45 (Phoenix Mill, uk: Sutton Publishing, 2003), 175–76.

  21 St. George Saunders, 306.

  22 Stacey, 416.

  23 John Forfar, From Omaha to the Scheldt: The Story of 47 Royal Marine Commando (East Lothian, Scotland: Tuckwell Press, 2001), 197–98.

  24 Martin Chisholm, “A Battleship Fires Her Heavy Guns,” Picture Post, vol. 25, no. 8, November 8, 1944, 12–13.

  25 Dorward, 28.

  26 Stacey, 417.

  27 Gerald Rawling, Cinderella Operation: The Battle for Walcheren 1944 (London: Cassell, 1980), 122.

  28 St. George Saunders, 300.

  29 W.R. Freasby, ed., offcial History of the Canadian Medical Services, 1939–1945, vol. 1: Organization and Campaigns (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 262.

  30 St. George Saunders, 301–2.

  31 Moulton, 204–6.

  32 Report No. 69 Historical Section Army Headquarters: “The Campaign in North-West Europe, Information from German Sources—Part III.. German Defence Operations in the Sphere of First Canadian Army (23 Aug.–8 Nov. 44),” Directorate of Heritage and History, Department of National Defence, 30 July, 1954, para. 278.

  33 Blake, 93.

  34 C.N. Barclay, The History of The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), vol. III, 1939–1946 (London: Sifton Praed, n.d.), 194.

  35 Blake, 98.

  36 Ibid., 113–14.

  37 1st Battalion, The Lake Superior Regiment (Motor) War Diary, November 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 2.

  38 H.M. Jackson, ed. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise’s), 1928–1953 (n.p., 1953), 147.

  39 G.L. Cassidy, Warpath: The Story of the Algonquin Regiment, 1939–1945 (Toronto: Ryerson Press, 1948), 188–90.

  40 Lincoln and Welland Regiment War Diary, November 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

  41 Cassidy, 194.

  42 J.M. Savage, The History of the 5th Canadian Anti-tank Regiment (Canada: 4th Canadian Armoured Division, 1945), 42.

  43 Algonquin Regiment War Diary, November 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 1.

  44 Cassidy, 196–97.

  45 Ibid., 197.

  46 Savage, 41–42.

  47 Cassidy, 198.

  48 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders War Diary, November 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 3.

  49 Jackson, 148.

  50 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders War Diary, November 1944, 3–4.

  51 The Lake Superior Regiment (Motor) War Diary, November 1944, 3.

  52 George F. G. Stanley, In the Face of Danger: The History of the Lake Superior Regiment (Port Arthur, ON:, The Lake Superior Scottish Regiment, 1960), 219–20.

  53 Johan van Doorn, “German casualties in the Battle of the Scheldt, 14th September– 8th November 1944, compiled 22/02/2007,” unpublished document, in possession of author.

  54 Johan van Doorn, Francis Huijbrechts, et al., “Dutch & Belgian casualties in the Battle of the Schedlt, Compiled 29/03/2007,” unpublished document, in possession of author.

  55 Stacey, 424.

  56 Terry Copp, Cinderella Army: The Canadians in Northwest Europe, 1944–1945 (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2006), 299–303.

  57 Jeffrey Williams, The Long Left Flank: The Hard Fought Way to the Reich, 1944–1945 (Toronto: Stoddart, 1988), 72–78.

  58 Stacey, 422–23.

  59 George G. Blackburn, The Guns of Victory: A Soldier’s Eye View, Belgium, Holland, and Germany, 1944–45 (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1996), 175.

  BIBLIOGRAPHY

  BOOKS

  Aernoudts, Karel. Waar de rode klaproos bloeit. Oostburg: Uitgeverij W.J. Pieters, 1972.

  Alexander, G.M., ed. Europe, July 1944–May 1945: A Brief History of the 4th Canadian Armoured Brigade in Action. Mitcham, England: West Brothers, 1945.

  Barclay, C.N. The History of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). Vol. 3: 1939–1946. London: Sifton Praed, n.d.

  Barnard, W.T. The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, 1860–1960: One Hundred Years of Canada. Don Mills, ON: Ontario Publishing Co., 1960.

  Bell, T.J. Into Action with the 12th Field. Utrecht: J. van Boekhoven, 1945.

  Bercuson, David. Battalion of Heroes: The Calgary Highlanders in World War II. Calgary: Calgary Highlanders Regimental Funds Foundation, 1994.

  Bird, Will R. North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment. Fredericton, NB: Brunswick Press, 1963.

  ———. No Retreating Footsteps: The Story of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders. Hantsport, NS: Lancelot Press, 1983.

  Blackburn, George. The Guns of Victory: A Soldier’s Eye View, Belgium, Holland, and Germany, 1944–45. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1996.

  Blake, George, Mountain and Flood: The History of the 52nd (Lowland) Division, 1939– 1945. Glasgow: Jackson, Son & Co., 1950.

  Bollen, Hen. Worsteling om Walcheren, 1939–1945. Netherlands: Uitgeverij Terra Zuthphen, 1985.

  Boss, William. Up the Glens: Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, 1783–1994. 2nd ed., Cornwall, ON: Old Book Store, 1995.

  Bouchery, Jean. Trans: Alan McKay. The Canadian Soldier in North-West Europe, 1944– 1945. Paris: Histoire & Collections, 2003.

  Brown, Gordon and Terry Copp. Look to Your Front…Regina Rifles: A Regiment at War, 1944–45. Waterloo, ON: Laurier Centre Military Strategic Disarmament Studies, 2001.

  Brown, Sr., Kingsley, Kingsley Brown, Jr. and Brereton Greenhous. Semper Paratus: The History of The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment), 1862–1977. Hamilton: The RHLI Historical Assoc., 1977.

  Buchanan, G.B. The March of the Prairie Men: A Story of the South Saskatchewan Regiment n.p., n.d.

  Burns, E.L.M. Manpower in the Canadian Army, 1939–1945. Toronto: Clarke, Irwin & Co., 1956.

  Cassidy, G.L. Warpath: The Story of the Algonquin Regiment, 1939–1945. Toronto: Ryerson Press, 1948.

  Castonguay, Jacques and Armand Ross. Le Régiment de la Chaudière. Lévis, QC: n.p., 1983.

  Chalmers, W.S. Full Cycle: The Biography of Admiral Sir Bertram Home Ramsay, KCB, KBE, MVC. Vol. 2. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1959.

  Copp, Terry. The Brigade: The Fifth Canadian Infantry Brigade, 1939–1945. Stoney Creek, ON: Fortress Publications, 1992.

  ———. Cinderella Army: The Canadians in Northwest Europe, 1944–1945. T
oronto: University of Toronto Press, 2006.

  ———. and William McAndrew. Battle Exhaustion. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1990.

  ———. and Robert Vogel. Maple Leaf Route: Caen. Alma, ON: Maple Leaf Route, 1983.

  Duguid, A. Fortescue. History of the Canadian Grenadier Guards, 1760–1964. Montreal: Gazette Printing Co., 1965.

  Dunning, James. The Fighting Fourth: No. 4 Commando at War, 1940–45. Phoenix Mill, UK: Sutton Publishing, 2003.

  Edwards, Kenneth. Operation Neptune. London: Collins, 1946.

  Ellis, L.F. with A.E. Warhurst. Victory in the West. Vol. II–The Defeat of Germany. London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1968.

  Fetherstonhaugh, R.C., The Royal Montreal Regiment, 1925–1945. Westmount, QC: The Royal Montreal Regiment, 1949.

  1st Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry of Canada: 1940–1945 Galt, ON: Highland Light Infantry of Canada Assoc., 1951.

  Forfar, John. From Omaha to the Scheldt: The Story of 47 Royal Marine Commando. East Lothian, Scotland: Tuckwell Press, 2001.

  Foster, Robert M. et. al. Steady the Buttons Two by Two: Governor General’s Foot Guards Regimental History, 125th Anniversary: 1872–1997. Ottawa: Governor General’s Foot Guards, 1999.

  Fraser, Robert L. Black Yesterdays: The Argyll’s War. Hamilton: Argyll Foundation, 1996.

  Freasby, W.R., ed., Official History of the Canadian Medical Services, 1939–1945. Vol. 1: Organization and Campaigns. Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956.

  Goodspeed, D.J. Battle Royal: A History of the Royal Regiment of Canada, 1862–1962. Toronto: The Royal Regiment of Canada Assoc., 1962.

  Goossens, A.B.J. West-Zeeuws-Vlanderen 1939–1946. Deel 2: Vlucht en bevrijding. Apeldoorn: n.p., 1997.

  Graham, Dominick. The Price of Command: A Biography of General Guy Simonds. Toronto: Stoddart, 1993.

  Granatstein, J.L. Canada’s Army: Waging War and Keeping the Peace. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2002.

  ———. The Generals: The Canadian Army’s Senior Commanders in the Second World War. Toronto: Stoddart, 1993.

  Graves, Donald. South Alberta’s: A Canadian Regiment at War. Toronto: Robin Brass Studio, 1998.

  Harker, Douglas E. The Dukes: The Story of the Men Who have Served in Peace and War with the British Columbia Regiment (D.C.O.), 1883–1973. The British Columbia Regiment, 1974.

  Hayes, Geoffrey. The Lincs: A History of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment at War. Alma, ON: Maple Leaf Route, 1986.

  Hoebeke, R.E. Slagveld Sloedam. Nieuw-en Sint Joosland, Holland: n.p., 2002.

  Horrocks, Brian with Eversley Belfield and H. Essame. Corps Commander. London: Sidgwick & Jackson, 1977.

  Hutchison, Paul P. Canada’s Black Watch: The First Hundred Years, 1862–1962. Montreal: The Black Watch (RHR) of Canada, 1962.

  Jackson, H.M. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise’s), 1928–1953. n.p., 1953.

  ———. The Sherbrooke Regiment (12th Armoured Regiment). n.p., 1958.

  Kaufman, David and Michiel Horn. A Liberation Album: Canadians in the Netherlands, 1944–45. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 1980.

  Kember, Arthur K. The Six Years of 6 Canadian Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery: September 1939–September 1945. Amsterdam: Town Printing, 1945.

  Kemp, P.K. The History of the 4th Battalion King’s Shropshire Light Infantry (T.A.) 1745– 1945. Shrewsbury, England: Wilding & Son Ltd., 1955.

  Kuppers, Alex, ed. Perspectives. Royal Winnipeg Rifles Assoc., British Columbia Branch, 2003.

  Liddell Hart, B.H. History of the Second World War. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1970.

  ———. The Tanks, The History of the Royal Tank Regiment. Vol. 2: 1939–1945. London: Cassell, 1959.

  Luxton, Eric, ed. 1st Battalion, The Regina Rifles Regiment, 1939–1946. Regina: The Regiment, 1946.

  McAndrew, Bill. Liberation: The Canadians in Europe. Montréal: Éditions Art Global, 1995.

  ———, Donald Graves and Michael Whitby. Normandy 1944: The Canadian Summer. Montreal: Éditions Art Global, 1994.

  Macdonald, Charles B. United States Army in World War II: The European Theater of Operations–The Siefried Line Campaign. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1954.

  Marchand, Gérard. Le Régiment de Maisonneuve Vers la Victoire, 1944–1945. Montréal: Les Presses Libres, 1980.

  Marteinson, John and Michael R. McNorgan. The Royal Canadian Armoured Corps: An Illustrated History. Toronto: Robin Brass Studio, 2000.

  Martin, Charles Cromwell. Battle Diary: From D-Day and Normandy to the Zuider Zee. Toronto: Dundurn Press, 1994.

  Mein, Stewart A.G. Up the Johns! The Story of the Royal Regina Rifles. North Battleford, SK: Turner-Warwick Publications, 1992.

  Meyer, Hubert. The History of the 12. ss-Panzerdivision “Hitlerjugend.” Winnipeg: J.J. Fedorowicz, 1994.

  Montgomery, Bernard Law. The Memoirs of Field Marshal The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, K.G. London: Collins, 1958.

  ———. Normandy to the Baltic. London: Hutchinson, 1947.

  Moore, Roger. De slag om ‘t Molentje: Moerkerke 1944. Eeklo, Belgium: n.p., 1981.

  Moulton, J.L. Battle for Antwerp: The Liberation of the City and the Opening of the Scheldt, 1944. New York: Hippocrene Books, 1978.

  Nicholson, G.W.L. The Gunners of Canada. Vol. 2. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1972.

  Pavey, Walter G. An Historical Account of the 7th Canadian Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars). Gardenvale, qc: Harpell’s Press, 1948.

  Pogue, Forrest C. Supreme Command. Washington, dc: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1954.

  Połozyński, Antoni. 10 Pułk Strzelców Konnych. Nürnberg, Germany: F. Willmy GmbH, 1947.

  Portugal, Jean E. We Were There: The Navy, the Army and the RCAF—A Record for Canada. Vol. 1–7. Shelburne, ON: The Battered Silicon Dispatch Box, 1998.

  Queen-Hughes, R.W. Whatever Men Dare: A History of the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada, 1935–1960. Winnipeg: Bulman Bros. 1960.

  Rawling, Gerald. Cinderella Operation: The Battle for Walcheren 1944. London: Cassell, 1980.

  Rawson, Andrew. Walcheren: Operation Infatuate. South Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Books, 2003.

  Read, Brian A. No Holding Back: Operation Totalize, Normandy, August 1944. Toronto: Robin Brass Studio, 2005.

  The Regimental History of the Governor General’s Foot Guards. Ottawa: Mortimer, 1948.

  Rogers, R.L. History of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment. n.p., 1954.

  Ross, Richard M. The History of the 1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG). n.p, n.d.

  Roy, Reginald, The Canadians in Normandy. Toronto: Macmillan of Canada, 1984.

  ———. Ready for the Fray: The History of the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s), 1920 to 1955. Vancouver: Evergreen Press, 1958.

  Ruffee, G.E.M. The History of the 14 Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery, 1940–1945. Amsterdam: Wereldbibliotheek, NV, 1945.

  St. George Saunders, Hilary. The Green Beret: The Story of the Commandos, 1940–1945. London: Michael Joseph, 1951.

  Savage, J.M. The History of the 5th Canadian Anti-tank Regiment, 10 Sept., 1941–10 June, 1945. Canada: 4th Canadian Armoured Division, 1945.

  Schofield, B.B. Operation Neptune. London: Ian Allan, 1974.

  Schoofs, Wally. De Slag om Brecht: 1940–1945. Wereldoorlog II in Brecht–Sint-Lenaarts–Sint-Job-in-‘t-Goor. Baarle-Nassau, Belgium: n.p., 2005.

  Service, G.T. The Gate: A History of the Fort Garry Horse. Calgary: n.p., 1971.

  Shawcross, Ronald Gendall. What Was It Like? A Rifleman Remembers: Some Memories of World War II, 1939–1945. Victoria: Trafford Publishing, 2004.

  Spencer, Robert A. History of the Fifteenth Canadian Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery: 1941 to 1945. New York: Elsevier, 1945.

  Stacey, C.P. The Victory Campaign: The Operations in North-West Europe, 1944–1945. Vol. 3. Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1960.
/>
  Stanley, George F.G. In the Face of Danger: The History of the Lake Superior Regiment. Port Arthur, ON: The Lake Superior Scottish Regiment, 1960.

  Tascona, Bruce and Eric Wells. Little Black Devils: A History of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. Winnipeg: Frye Publishing, 1983.

  Thompson, R.W. The Eighty-Five Days: The Story of the Battle of the Scheldt. London: Hutchinson & Co., 1957.

  van Doorn, Johan. Slag om Woensdrecht: bevrijding van de Zuidwesthoek, Oktober 1944. Willemstad: n.p., 1995.

  Vanguard: The Fort Garry Horse in the Second World War. Doetincham, Holland: Uitgevers-Maatschappij, C. Misset, NV, nd.

  Warren, Arnold. Wait for the Waggon: The Story of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1961.

  Whitaker, W. Denis and Shelagh Whitaker. Tug of War: The Canadian Victory that Opened Antwerp. Toronto: Stoddart, 1984.

  Whitsed, Roy. Canadians: A Battalion at War. Mississauga, ON: Burlington Books, 1996.

  Williams, Jeffrey. The Long Left Flank: The Hard Fought Way to the Reich, 1944–1945. Toronto: Stoddart, 1988.

  Wilmot, Chester. The Struggle for Europe. London, Collins, 1952.

  MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS, ARTICLES

  Chisholm, Martin. “A Battleship Fires Her Heavy Guns.” Picture Post, vol. 25, no. 8: Nov. 8, 1944.

  Copp, Terry. “The Liberation of Belgium.” Legion Magazine. Nov./Dec. 2000.

  MacDonald, Harold with M.A. MacDonald. “The Long Wait (Part 1): A Personal Account of Infantry Training in Britain.” Canadian Military History, vol. 14: Spring 2006.

  Magrey, Karel. “The Ijzendijke Explosion.” After The Battle, no. 99: 1998.

  WEBSITES

  “The Battle of Bergen Op Zoom.” http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/Land-Force_Central_Area/31_Canadian Brigade_Group/Lincoln_Welland_Regiment/History.asp. Dec. 19, 2006.

  Benson, John. “Belgium.” http://fourthlincolns.tripod.com/page5/html. July 18, 2006.

  Berry, Lt. Maurice. “letter November 20, 1944 to Lt. Col. W.E. MacFarlane.” http://blackwatchcanada.com/en/archives.htm. Nov. 11, 2006.

  Dubetz, John. “Friday, October 13, 1944, ‘Black Friday.’” http://www.smokylake.com/history/