Remembered - Walcheren, Holland, November 1944

In Proud Remembrance of the gallant officers and men of the 7th/9th (Highlanders) Battalion The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) who fought to Liberate Walcheren.

On night 2nd/3rd November 1944 from H-hour 3.30 until about midday on 3rd November 1944, ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies with two dismounted Sections of the Carrier Platoon of the 7th/9th Royal Scots under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel M. Melvill fought a fierce and bloody battle to capture the heavily fortified German Command Post in the Grand Hotel Britannia, Flushing. 50 Germans were killed and 600 prisoners taken including the Garrison Commander Oberst Reinhart.

On 6th November 1944 ‘A’ Company 7th/9th Royal Scots as part of Johnston Force under the command of Major Hugh Johnston, RS, supported by the 11th MG Platoon 7th Battalion Manchester Regiment and ‘A’ Squadron11th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment, advanced on the western flank of Middelburg through heavily flooded sea water, overcoming mines and overhead explosives, this unexpected approach of amphibious track vehicles forced the surrender of General Dazer who Commanded Fortress Walcheren and the 70th German Infantry Division along with 2000 Germans prisoners.

Remembering with Honour 22 Royal Scots and their Brave Comrades of the 7th Battalion Manchester Regiment and ‘A’ Squadron RTR who were killed during these two phases of the battle to Liberate Walcheren.

Joe Brown
Battalion Intelligence Officer

 

Also
Private R. Black, Private H Crowther , Private D. Gibson, all killed at Flushing 02-Nov-44

Private C. Baird, Corporal E. Mulligan, Private J. Musgrave, Private C. Rogerson, Private L. Ward, all killed at Flushing 04-Nov-44

Corporal J. Anderson, killed at Oost Souberg 05-Nov-44

All of the 5th Kings Own Scottish Borderers

 

We also remember all the men of the 4th Special Services Brigade who died during that battle.

Also those RN men who gave their lives.

The many loyal citizens of Flushing who died at the moment of their liberation.

RIP and thank you. Everyone.

 

If you give me the names of anyone involved in the Walcharen Operation and they are laid to rest at either of the two War Cemeteries at Bergen-Op-Zoon, I will do my best to post the headstone photos on this thread. I've got those names mentioned by Joe Brown and jmcq to be getting on with.

 

Name: ANDERSON, JAMES
Rank: Corporal
Service No: 3192939
Date of Death: 05/11/1944
Age: 28
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit: 5th Bn.
Grave Reference: 8. A. 20.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of John Henderson Anderson and Christina Cameron Anderson, of Greenock, Renfrewshire; husband of Annie Lawrie Anderson, of Greenock.



Name: BAIRD, GEORGE
Rank: Private
Service No: 3197830
Date of Death: 04/11/1944
Age: 24
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit: 5th Bn.
Grave Reference: 8. C. 22.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Andrew and Elizabeth Baird; nephew of Mary A. Johnston, of Berwick-on-Tweed.



Name: BLACK, ROBERT ROBERTSON
Rank: Private
Service No: 3192903
Date of Death: 02/11/1944
Age: 25
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit: 5th Bn.
Grave Reference: 16. C. 2.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Thomas White Black and Mary Humphreys Irvine Black; husband of Christina Muir Black, of Paisley, Renfrewshire.



Name: CROWTHER, HARRY
Rank: Private
Service No: 3197891
Date of Death: 02/11/1944
Age: 21
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit: 5th Bn.
Grave Reference: 10. C. 8.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of George and Mary Ann Crowther, of Leeds, Yorkshire.



Name: GIBSON, DENNIS
Rank: Private
Service No: 3197897
Date of Death: 02/11/1944
Age: 22
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit: 5th Bn.
Grave Reference: 16. C. 6.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Gilbert and Nellie Gibson, of Stourton, Leeds, Yorkshire.



Name: MULLIGAN, EDWARD
Rank: Lance Serjeant
Service No: 3187466
Date of Death: 04/11/1944
Age: 29
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit: 5th Bn.
Grave Reference: 16. B. 6.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY



Name: MUSGRAVE, JOHN FORSTER
Rank: Private
Service No: 3193727
Date of Death: 04/11/1944
Age: 25
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit: 5th Bn.
Grave Reference: 8. B. 22.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Simon and Mary A. Musgrave, of Scaleby, Cumberland.



Name: ROGERSON, CHARLES
Rank: Private
Service No: 14727464
Date of Death: 04/11/1944
Age: 19
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit: 5th Bn.
Grave Reference: 8. A. 21.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Charles and Hilda Rogerson, of Grimethorpe, Yorkshire.



Name: WARD, LESLIE
Rank: Private
Service No: 14576611
Date of Death: 04/11/1944
Age: 19
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit: 5th Bn.
Grave Reference: 16. B. 7.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY

 

I have posted all bar one name, which I can't seem to find on find on CWGC, which is L/Cpl J Shields?

(Photos to follow shortly)

Name: ARBUTHNOT, GORDON WILLIAM
Rank: Lance Corporal
Service No: 3061203
Date of Death: 03/11/1944
Age: 24
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit: 7/9th Bn.
Grave Reference: 16. C. 9.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY



Name: BAIN, BENJAMIN W.
Rank: Private
Service No: 3060142
Date of Death: 03/11/1944
Age: 25
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit: 7/9th Bn.
Grave Reference: 22. A. 1.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of John and Elizabeth Helen Bain, of Edinburgh.



Name: BUTCHART, THOMAS
Rank: Private
Service No: 14725695
Date of Death: 03/11/1944
Age: 18
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit: 7th/9th Bn.
Grave Reference: 22. A. 10.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY



Name: CHATER, GERALD ARNAUD
Rank: Major
Service No: 47539
Date of Death: 03/11/1944
Age: 35
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Grave Reference: 16. C. 10.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Surg. Rear-Admiral Harold John Chater and Winifred Arnaud Chater, of Paddington, London.



Name: CURRIE, JOHN OLIVER
Rank: Private
Service No: 3061255
Date of Death: 03/11/1944
Age: 32
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit: 7/9th Bn.
Grave Reference: 22. A. 4.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Currie.



Name: HOLBURN, ALEXANDER MCNAIR
Rank: Private
Service No: 14205376
Date of Death: 03/11/1944
Age: 21
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit: 7/9th Bn.
Grave Reference: 22. A. 5.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY



Name: IRVING, RICHARD
Rank: Corporal
Service No: 3060457
Date of Death: 03/11/1944
Age: 28
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit: 7/9th Bn.
Grave Reference: 22. A. 3.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. William Irving; husband of Evelyn Irving, of Walker, Newcastle-on-Tyne.



Name: HEALD, THOMAS
Rank: Private
Service No: 3065724
Date of Death: 06/11/1944
Age: 22
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit: 719th Bn.
Grave Reference: 18. C. 15.
Cemetery: GENT CITY CEMETERY

From Findagrave



Name: McGHEE, JOHN
Rank: Private
Service No: 14000096
Date of Death: 03/11/1944
Age: 21
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit: 7/9th Bn.
Grave Reference: 16. C. 12.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Alexander and Margaret McGhee, of Alva, Clackmannanshire.



Name: McQUEENIE, BARTHOLOMEW
Rank: Private
Service No: 14686241
Date of Death: 03/11/1944
Age: 21
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit: 7/9th Bn.
Grave Reference: 22. A. 9.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY



Name: O'KADA, GEORGE
Rank: Private
Service No: 3060568
Date of Death: 03/11/1944
Age: 27
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit: 7/9th Bn.
Grave Reference: 22. A. 12.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of William and Lily Allan O'Kada, of Aberdeen.



Name: PAGE, REUBEN
Rank: Private
Service No: 3060484
Date of Death: 03/11/1944
Age: 28
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit: 7/9th Bn.
Grave Reference: 22. A. 6.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of James S. and Rose Page, of Consett, Co. Durham; husband of Lilian Page, of Blackhill, Consett.



Name: PARKER, WILLIAM BELL
Rank: Private
Service No: 3049918
Date of Death: 03/11/1944
Age: 38
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit: 7/9th Bn.
Grave Reference: 22. B. 11.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of William B. and Catherine Parker; husband of Cassie Parker, of Renfrew.



Name: ROSS, WILLIAM ANDERSON
Rank: Private
Service No: 3063750
Date of Death: 03/11/1944
Age: 32
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit: 7/9th Bn.
Grave Reference: 22. A. 11.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of William Anderson Ross and Catherine Ross, of Edinburgh; nephew of Colin Ross, of Edinburgh.



Name: SCOTT, ROBERT
Rank: Private
Service No: 14563744
Date of Death: 22/11/1944
Age: 19
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit: 7/9th Bn.
Grave Reference: Plot 63. Row 3. Grave 6.
Cemetery: BRUGGE GENERAL CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Philip Gay Scott and Grace Lily Scott, of Edinburgh.

From Findagrave



Name: SMITH, ALLAN
Rank: Private
Service No: 3064306
Date of Death: 03/11/1944
Age: 24
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit: 7/9th Bn.
Grave Reference: 22. B. 12.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY



Name: THOMSON, WILLIAM GORDON
Rank: Captain
Service No: 124112
Date of Death: 03/11/1944
Age: 26
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Grave Reference: 22. A. 8.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of William and Barbara B. M. Thomson, of Barnston, Cheshire. M.A. (Edin.).



Name: WALKER, FRANK BINGLEY
Rank: Lieutenant
Service No: 267221
Date of Death: 02/11/1944
Age: 40
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit: 7/9th Bn.
Grave Reference: 22. A. 7.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of George Dutton Walker and Annie Walker; nephew of Ethel M. Walker, of Blackpool, Lancashire.



Name: WALLBRIDGE, SIDNEY FREDERICK
Rank: Private
Service No: 14649765
Date of Death: 03/11/1944
Age: 19
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit: 7/9th Bn.
Grave Reference: 16. C. 11.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Ernest Archibald and Catherine Emily Wallbridge, of Deptford, London.



Name: WHEELDON, WALTER JAMES
Rank: Private
Service No: 14201549
Date of Death: 03/11/1944
Age: 21
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit: 7/9th Bn.
Grave Reference: 16. C. 8.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Walter and Mary Elizabeth Wheeldon, of Foleshill, Warwickshire.



Name: WHITWORTH, WILLIAM
Rank: Private
Service No: 14322409
Date of Death: 06/11/1944
Age: 20
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit: 7/9th Bn.
Grave Reference: 21. A. 3.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Arthur and Nancy Whitworth, of Littleborough, Lancashire.

 

Ignore post

 

good day joe brown.ww2 veteran yesterday.08:09pm.re:remember-wallheren,holland November 1944.just to give my respects to you and your regiment and all who did not return,may they rest in peace.regards bernard85

 

Dear Ramacal.

You have paid a wonderful tribute to all of these men and honour them in a very special way. I am much moved you do this in Remembrance of these Brave Comrades. Your kind and thoughtful action is warmly appreciated by all the surviving Veterans of the 7th/9th and on their behalf I send our sincere thanks.

Private J. Shields died from wounds received in the battle and could have been a reason why he was buried elsewhere but much more likely after the War the family brought their Son home to be interred in the family grave.

It is deeply moving to read the inscriptions at the bottom of each Memorial Stone and I am nor ashamed to tell you that I cannot hold back tears as my heart goes out to the man I knew and to his grieving family.

I remember very clearly when Private Wallbridge joined the Battalion in 1943 and was posted to my Platoon in 'D' Company. I was concerned he was so young and wanted to shield him from the horrors that undoubtedly lay ahead and after discussion with the Platoon Sergeant decided to keep him close to us and made him the Platoon Runner. I was just 23 myself! I share with his grieving parents his untimely loss as I read again the Family's inscription and feel their grief: Gone but will never be forgotten by Mum, Dad and Family. And add: Never forgotten by his young Platoon Commander, now an old man of 92.

Regards and thanks.

Joe

 

Joe,
A most excellent post.

We shall remember them.

Regards
Tom

 

Joe and Rob you have done a wonderful remembrance thread.

 

Likewise, well done Joe and Rob.

So suitable this close to Remembrance Day.

 

Joe,
That you remember is superb. That you share is even better. We are in debt on both fronts.
Rob, great stuff....as usual.

Cheers from the colony.

 

Well done Rob and thanks Joe for the personal stories behind those now 69 year old headstones. Every one has a story and we are grateful that you are able to share those memories.

I know how ill equipped my own children would be to endure what the Royal Scots experienced and I'm sure the parents of those 19 year olds felt no differently. So many futures sacrificed on our behalf.

RIP

 

Deacs.

80 Assault Squadron 5th Assault Regiment, RE, took part in Infautate II: The destruction of five main German Batteries in concrete emplacements.

It was a fierce battle, with a sea-borne landing by the Royal Marines and support troop at Westkapelle. Reuters correspondent aboard HMS Kingsmill wrote: 'Then I saw an unforgettable sight, landing craft bearing hundreds of men wearing green berets - the men of the Royal Marines. They were all singing and going into that hell of fire and shell and flying metal - singing. Twenty-eight minutes after H-Hour we received a signal saying that a good beaching had been effected and all ships landed. Five minutes after that a lamp started to wink and what a comfort it was - it indicated that we were established.'

The 80 Assault Squadron were on board four LCTs that had left Ostend harbour carrying 47 Royal Marine Commandos given the task to take the coastal defences in the rear. The LCT carrying 'F' Echelon had five LVTs on board from 80 Assault Sqn. They touched down in the right SE shoulder of Westkapelle at 1145 hours encountering plenty of enemy shelling and all their LCTs hit. Captain Saunders and two men were killed. [Indebted to Paul M. Crucq who wrote the definitive account of the capture and liberation of Walcheren, "Turning the Key" pp. 237,257].

Joe Brown.

 

Owen: Only conjecture! . . . but could well have been the latter.

Joe

 

I've wanted to do this for sometime-Last week I found the time to sort it. Images from WO 171/1361 7/9 Royal Scots War Diary