The Attack by the Black Watch of Canada on Woensdrecht on Friday Oct 13th 1944 left the Battlion reeling for the second time in 1944. With 145 casualties and 56 dead, every officer in the attack was killed wounded or taken prisoner. A very grim day for the RH'sR of Canada in the poorly planned destined to fail Opertion Angus. The attack, made with under strength and under trained men and a flawed battle plan, against a powerful enemy, failed. For the Black Watch, Oct. 13 was Black Friday, the second single-day disaster in the history of the Royal Highland Regt. of Canada. It was not so much the total casualties--145--but the ratio of dead-to-wounded that marked the day's fighting. Fifty-six Black Watch soldiers were killed or died of wounds. Twenty-seven were taken prisoner. Battle of the Scheldt:X Part IVX October, 1944 - The Battle for Woensdrecht and the Neck of the Scheldt Estuary
Matt, I posted a couple of photographs of the memorial to the Black Watch from my 'Tour of Canadian Battlefields' this past May. Please let me know if you want them by email. Cheers Randy
Randy, I'd like to see your pictures. I can find so few pics or accounts of this tragic event. I'll PM my email addy.
Terry Copps Article on the the battles North of Antrewp including the costly Operation Angus. https://legionmagazine.com/en/2001/09/the-battle-north-of-antwerp/
