Operation Infatuate - Landings

Landings

After some debate over the sea conditions the operation was planned for November 1. No. 4 Commando landed at 0545 hours beside the Oranje Molen, a coastal windmill in Flushing and the main part of the troops arrived ashore at 0630 hours.

On the day of the assault a heavy mist over the Dutch and Belgian airfields limited RAF support for the actual landings, although the skies over Walcheren itself were clear. No.4 Commando, under Lt-Colonel Dawson DSO, had a problem in finding a suitable place to get ashore. Dawson sent a small reconnaissance party (known as Keepforce) ashore in two LCPs. They were followed by Nos.1 and 2 troops who secured the beachhead with minimal casualties and soon began to take prisoners. The main body came in at 0630 hours, but, by this time, the Germans were totally alert and opened heavy fire with machine guns and 20 mm cannon. Nevertheless the Commandos got ashore with only two or three casualties, although, the LCA containing the heavier equipment including 3-inch (76 mm) mortars, hit a stake and sank some 20 yards (18 m) off shore. The mortars were successfully salvaged.

The Commandos now fought their way through the German strong-points. They were somewhat encumbered by the need to leave rearguards against infiltration. However, they were aided when the leading battalion of 155 Brigade began to land at 0830 hours despite having lost two LCAs to heavy fire from one of the coastal batteries. German prisoners were pressed into service unloading stores and supplies. A good proportion of the defenders of Walcheren were poor quality troops and many suffered from stomach complaints. Curiously the defence positions were well stocked with food and ammunition. By 1600 hours the Commandos had reached most of their objectives and they decided to consolidate as the day drew to a close.

Brigadier Leicester's plan for the attack on Westkapelle called for three troops of No.41 (Royal Marine) Commando, under Lt-Colonel E C E Palmer RM, to land on the north shoulder of the gap blown in the dyke with the objective of clearing the area between there and the village of Westkapelle. The remainder of the Commando, along with the two No.10 (IA) Commando troops, would then come ashore in Weasels and Buffalos launched from landing craft tanks (LCTs). Their mission would be to clear Westkapelle and then move north. No. 48 (Royal Marine) Commando, under Lt-Colonel J. L. Moulton DSO, would use the same methods, but come ashore south of the gap. From there they would advance on Zoutelande some 2 miles (3.2 km) to the south. Finally No. 47 (Royal Marine) Commando, under Lt-Colonel C.F. Phillips, landed behind No.48 and drove on to meet up with No.4 Commando near Flushing.

The force sailed from Ostend at 0315 hours and by 0930 hours they were off the objective. The ships bombarded the German defences with everything at their disposal including the 15-inch (380 mm) guns of HMS Warspite (03), the landing craft guns, the rockets of rocket LCTs and a squadron of rocket-firing Typhoons. The German defences held fire until the assault craft made for the shore. Several landing craft were hit including a rocket LCT which received a direct hit. Thirty landing craft from the Close Support Squadron were lost and over 300 men were killed in the action.

No.41 overran a pillbox in their path and pushed onto Westkapelle where they were met by a battery of four 150 mm guns. They were reduced with the help of some tanks and the Commando then moved north along the dyke.

No.48 also came up against a battery of 150 mm guns. The leading troop commander was killed and several men wounded in an attack on the position. Another attempt was met with intense mortar fire. Supporting fire was called in from the field batteries in the Breskens area together with Typhoon attacks. Following this action another troop went in under cover of smoke and reached the centre of the battery putting it out of action.

The next day No.4 Commando, together with 5 King's Own Scottish Borderers, continued with the battle for Flushing. No.5 (French) Troop were involved in an action against a strong point nicknamed Dover. One section of the troop gained the roof of a cinema and opened fire on the strong point with their PIAT. The other sections moved along the street and through back gardens. As the troop was preparing for the final assault, Typhoons attacked the enemy position. That afternoon the Troop resumed their advance and reached the corner overlooking their objective. One house remained occupied by the Germans and as they made for the strong point they suffered several casualties from the fire of No.5 Troop. No.1 Section was now by the Anti-Tank wall and firing PIAT bombs into the embrasures of the strong point at very short range. Corporal Lafont was on the point of breaching the strongpoint with a made-up charge at the ready when the German defenders surrendered.

No.48 (RM) Commando pushed on at first light and took Zoutelande, meeting only light opposition. No.47 took over the advance but soon came up against a strong fortified position with an anti-tank ditch and huge Dragon's Teeth. The weather had closed in and no air support was available so they attacked supported only by artillery. They came under heavy mortar fire and suffered several casualties. The other half of the Commando having moved along the dyke were confronted by another 150 mm battery. Their approach was obstructed by pockets of resistance to the front of the battery which were not cleared until nightfall. The three troops halted in front of the battery and repulsed a German counter-attack just after they had been replenished with much-needed food and ammunition.

Defensive stakes and mines embedded in the base of the dyke made it difficult for supply craft to land stores. By the third and fourth days the Commando were forced to use captured German rations. To the relief of all concerned supplies were parachuted in on the fifth day near Zoutelande.

No.41 and No.10 Commandos reached Domburg on the morning of D+1 where they encountered strong resistance. That evening Brigadier Leicester ordered No.41, less one Troop, to assist No.47 in the south, leaving the Troops of No.10 and one of No.41 to finish mopping up Domburg. No.4 Commando was relieved by 155 Brigade and embarked on tracked landing vehicles to assault two batteries, W3 and W4 situated north-west of Flushing. They had been fighting for 40 hours and needed a well earned rest. After landing in a gap in the dyke, about which little was known, Lt-Colonel Dawson asked Brigadier Leicester for a break of some 24 hours to rest his men. This was agreed, but it was well after dark before the Commando was relieved by 155 brigade. In the event No.47 (RM) Commando overcame the opposition south of Zoutelande later that day and linked up with No. 4 Commando. Meanwhile No.10 cleared Domburg with the Norwegians showing particular courage in the face of heavy opposition which cost them a number of casualties.

In the after-action report of the battle Captain J. Linzel of No 10 Commando stated....

This operation had more impact on me. The objective was to clear the seaway to Antwerp. We went to Belgium, where the Nr4 Troops Brigade and the No10 Commando were billeted. We were an attached unit of 14 men. We entered our LCT's Buffalo's amphibious vehicles to go to Walcheren where we experienced heavy German Artillery. Our vehicle got hit direct by a grenade, setting our flame throwers and ammunition on fire. This was a chaos. Our burning Buffalo was pushed into the sea and I can remember that together with 10 other men I ended-up in another Buffalo and landed at Westkapelle. We experienced some serious fighting there and a lot of the Brigade were killed. It took us 3 days to capture the German dyke at Vlissingen, there were about 300 casements. Captain J. Linzel.