Operation Infatuate 1
With the guns set up in Slijkplaat, close to the Scheldt estuary ready to support Operation Infatuate 1, Captain Lemmon as FOO (82 Battery) and his party of signallers landed on Uncle Beach at Flushing with 4 K.O.S.B. They later joined 5 K.O.S.B. as they took over the advance moving north and east through the dock area. Many times the Scots called for the Germans to surrender but each pillbox or strong point had to be taken by force. Machine-gun and mortar fire was directed from the oil refinery, codenamed W2013 'Haymarket' (see map, marked with yellow circle). On the map, it is possible to see two enemy bunkers at Haymarket, marked by arrows. The area was worked over by 9th Medium Regiment's guns located in Slijkplaat across the Scheldt estuary and a Typhoon strike.
D Company of 5 K.O.S.B., commanded by Major David MacDonald, was ordered across the Middelburg Canal (see the map also) at 3.45am. They overpowered the pockets of resistance, including the bunkers at Haymarket.
One of these bunkers survives today and recently, I was lucky enough to gain access. Evidence of the battle can be seen clearly outside and inside of the bunker. The guide told us that the Scots had to enter the bunker and killed all 6 German soldiers inside. More research is needed to confirm this story.
With the guns set up in Slijkplaat, close to the Scheldt estuary ready to support Operation Infatuate 1, Captain Lemmon as FOO (82 Battery) and his party of signallers landed on Uncle Beach at Flushing with 4 K.O.S.B. They later joined 5 K.O.S.B. as they took over the advance moving north and east through the dock area. Many times the Scots called for the Germans to surrender but each pillbox or strong point had to be taken by force. Machine-gun and mortar fire was directed from the oil refinery, codenamed W2013 'Haymarket' (see map, marked with yellow circle). On the map, it is possible to see two enemy bunkers at Haymarket, marked by arrows. The area was worked over by 9th Medium Regiment's guns located in Slijkplaat across the Scheldt estuary and a Typhoon strike.
D Company of 5 K.O.S.B., commanded by Major David MacDonald, was ordered across the Middelburg Canal (see the map also) at 3.45am. They overpowered the pockets of resistance, including the bunkers at Haymarket.
One of these bunkers survives today and recently, I was lucky enough to gain access. Evidence of the battle can be seen clearly outside and inside of the bunker. The guide told us that the Scots had to enter the bunker and killed all 6 German soldiers inside. More research is needed to confirm this story.
Note battle damage on the bunker. Middelburg Canal can be seen in the background where 5 K.O.S.B. crossed to attack the bunkers.
Bunker entrance. Evidence of original camouflage can be seen.
Firing slit and armoured plate to protect it. The photo shows the gun originally mounted in the battle - a Czech machine-gun.
Here the remnants of a skull can be seen painted in black, marking the death inside the bunker of the 6 German soldiers.
155 Brigade War Diary for the period in question.
Uncle Beach as it appears today. Across the Scheldt estuary the arrow marks where the regiment's guns were positioned for Operation Infatuate.
Google Earth image showing the layout of the 4 troops of the Regiment and RHQ at Slijkplaat (Operation Infatuate 1).
C Troop position at Slijkplaat. From here Flushing was shelled by the Regiment's guns.
Slijkplaat, D Troop position.
Slijkplaat, A Troop position. Here enemy guns on Flushing shelled the position as the guns were setting up. Gunner White was killed and a number of men wounded.
Slijkplaat, RHQ.
