THE SCHELDT

The Battle of the Scheldt
The battle honour “The Scheldt” is one of the most operationally complex and grueling achievements in the Second World War history of the Governor General’s Foot Guards, operating as the 21st Canadian Armoured Regiment (GGFG).
The Strategic Mission: Although Allied forces had captured the deep-water port of Antwerp intact, they could not use it because the German army still controlled the Scheldt estuary, blocking any shipping lanes. To shorten the Allied supply lines before winter, clearing the estuary became a critical priority. The campaign, fought under Canadian command, lasted from October 6 to November 9, 1944.
The Grim Polder Terrain: For the GGFG’s tank crews, the low-lying Dutch polders were a nightmare of mud, flooded fields, canals, and high dikes. The terrain made maneuvering virtually impossible, forcing the Sherman tanks to travel in single file along raised, exposed roads. They became easy targets for German paratroopers, anti-tank guns (88mms), and Panzerfaust teams concealed in thick hedges and woods.
Wartime Operations & Hardships: The GGFG committed its three tank squadrons to the battle on October 16, 1944, covering a twisting 50-mile path from Putte to Lepelstraat, Holland. The fighting was remarkably bitter:
On October 21, north of Putte, the GGFG held an exposed front line without infantry support. Squadron Sergeant Major Claude William Brown was awarded the Dutch Bronze Lion for fearlessly crawling under fire to organize and coordinate a defensive perimeter that successfully repelled German infiltration attempts.
On October 23, during an advance toward Wouwsche Plantage, the Regiment was accidentally strafed by friendly Allied aircraft, and Major Robert Fernand Major (a squadron commander) was tragically killed by an accidental discharge of a sten gun.
On October 25, Corporal Pearson (a welder in the Light Aid Detachment) earned the Dutch Bronze Cross by spending two hours in the open under heavy enemy shelling to repair a vital command tank so it could keep directing operations.
The Breakthrough at Moerstratten: On October 29, Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Marshall Smith launched a bold, unsupported cross-country thrust to outflank German defenses and cut the vital Bergen-op-Zoom–Steenbergen escape highway. Major George Baylay’s No. 2 Squadron spearheaded the charge. Because the mud was too soft to bypass the town, Lieutenant Clarke Middleton-Hope led his troop straight down the main street of Moerstratten with all guns blazing in a dramatic surprise attack, capturing the town without a single casualty
. For this brilliant planning and leadership, Lt-Col Smith was awarded the D.S.O., and Lt. Middleton-Hope won the American Bronze Star.
Success: By November 3, 1944, GGFG tanks had successfully liberated Wouwsche Plantage, Moerstratten, and Hazelaar, helping to effectively break German resistance in the sector and free the port of Antwerp.