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History |
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Wars & Campaigns |
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►Boer
War
►First
World War
►►Western
Front
►►►Trench
Warfare: 1914-1916
►►►Allied
Offensive: 1916
►►►Allied
Offensives: 1917
►►►German
Offensive: 1918
►►►Advance
to Victory: 1918
►►Siberia
►Second
World War
►►War
Against Japan
►►Italian
Campaign
►►►Sicily
►►►Southern
Italy
►►►The
Sangro
►►►Battles
of the FSSF
►►►Cassino
►►►Liri
Valley
►►►Advance
to Florence
►►►Gothic
Line
►►►Winter
Lines
►►North-West
Europe
►►►Normandy
►►►Channel
Ports
►►►Scheldt
►►►Nijmegen
Salient
►►►Rhineland
►►►Final
Phase
►Korean
War
►Cold
War
►Gulf
War |
|
Operations |
►GAUNTLET
Aug 1941
►HUSKY
Jul 1943
►OVERLORD
Jun 1944
►VERITABLE
Feb 1945 |
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Battle Honours |
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First World War
Western Front
Trench Warfare: 1914-1916
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►Ypres,
1915 |
22
Apr-25 May 15 |
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►Gravenstafel |
22-23 Apr 15 |
|
►St. Julien |
24
Apr-4 May 15 |
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►Frezenberg |
8-13 May 15 |
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►Bellewaarde |
24-25 May 15 |
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►Festubert, 1915 |
15-25 May 15 |
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►Loos |
25
Sep- 8 Oct 15 |
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►Mount Sorrel |
2-13 Jun 15 |
Allied Offensive: 1916
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►Somme, 1916 |
1
Jul-18 Nov 16 |
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►Albert |
.1-13
Jul 16 |
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►Razentin |
.14-17
Jul 16 |
|
►Pozieres |
.23
Jul-3 Sep 16 |
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►Guillemont |
.3-6
Sep 16 |
|
►Ginchy |
.9
Sep 16 |
|
►Flers-Courcelette |
.15-22
Sep 16 |
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►Thiepval |
.26-29
Sep 16 |
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►Le Transloy |
.
1-18 Oct 16 |
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►Ancre Heights |
1
Oct-11 Nov 16 |
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►Ancre, 1916 |
13-18 Nov 16 |
Allied
Offensives: 1917
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►Arras 1917 |
8
Apr-4 May 17 |
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►Vimy, 1917 |
.9-14
Apr 17 |
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►Arleux |
28-29 Apr 17 |
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►Scarpe, 1917 |
.3-4
May17 |
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►Hill 70 |
.15-25
Aug 17 |
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►Messines, 1917 |
.7-14
Jun 17 |
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►Ypres, 1917 |
..31
Jul-10 Nov 17 |
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►Pilckem |
31
Jul-2 Aug 17 |
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►Langemarck, 1917 |
.16-18
Aug 17 |
|
►Menin Road |
.20-25
Sep 17 |
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►Polygon Wood |
26
Sep-3 Oct 17 |
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►Broodseinde |
.4
Oct 17 |
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►Poelcapelle |
.9
Oct 17 |
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►Passchendaele |
.12
Oct 17 |
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►Cambrai, 1917 |
20
Nov-3 Dec 17 |
German Offensive: 1918
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►Somme, 1918 |
.21
Mar-5 Apr 18 |
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►St. Quentin |
.21-23
Mar 18 |
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►Bapaume, 1918 |
.24-25
Mar 18 |
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►Rosieres |
.26-27
Mar 18 |
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►Avre |
.4
Apr 18 |
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►Lys |
.9-29
Apr 18 |
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►Estaires |
.9-11
Apr 18 |
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►Messines, 1918 |
.10-11
Apr 18 |
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►Bailleul |
.13-15
Apr 18 |
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►Kemmel |
.17-19
Apr 18 |
Advance to Victory: 1918
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►Arras, 1918 |
.26
Aug-3 Sep 18 |
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►Scarpe, 1918 |
26-30 Aug 18. |
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►Drocourt-Queant |
.2-3
Sep 18 |
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►Hindenburg Line |
.12
Sep-9 Oct 18 |
|
►Canal du Nord |
.27
Sep-2 Oct 18 |
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►St. Quentin Canal |
.29
Sep-2 Oct 18 |
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►Epehy |
3-5
Oct 18 |
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►Ypres, 1918 |
.8-9
Oct 18 |
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►Valenciennes |
.1-2
Nov 18 |
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►Sambre |
.4
Nov 18 |
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►Pursuit to Mons |
.28 Sep-11Nov |
Second World War
War Against Japan
South-East Asia
Italian Campaign
Battle of Sicily
Southern
Italy
|
►Motta
Montecorvino |
1-3 Oct 43 |
The Sangro
|
►The Sangro |
19
Nov-3 Dec 43 |
|
►Castel
di Sangro |
.23-24
Nov 43 |
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►The
Moro |
.5-7
Dec 43 |
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►San
Leonardo |
..8-9
Dec 43 |
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►The
Gully |
..10-19
Dec 43 |
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►Casa
Berardi |
..14-15
Dec 43 |
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►Ortona |
20-28 Dec 43 |
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►Villa Grande |
122-28 Dec 43 |
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►San
Nicola-San |
.31
Dec 43 |
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Tommaso |
. |
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►Point
59/ |
.29
Dev 43- |
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Torre
Mucchia |
.4
Jan 44 |
Battles of the FSSF
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►Monte
Camino |
.5
Nov-9 Dec 43 |
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►Monte
la Difensa- |
.2-8
Dec 43 |
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Monte la Remetanea |
. |
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►Monte
Majo |
3-8 Jan
44. |
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►Hill 720 |
25 Dec
43 |
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►Radicosa |
4 Jan
44 |
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►Monte Vischiataro |
8 Jan
44 |
|
►Anzio |
22
Jan-22 May 44 |
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►Rome |
.22
May-4 Jun 44 |
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►Advance
|
.22
May-22 Jun 44 |
|
to the Tiber |
. |
|
►Monte Arrestino |
25
May 44 |
|
►Rocca Massima |
27
May 44 |
|
►Colle Ferro |
2
Jun 44 |
Cassino
|
►Cassino II |
11-18
May 44 |
|
►Gustav Line |
11-18
May 44 |
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►Sant' Angelo in
|
13
May 44 |
|
Teodice |
. |
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►Pignataro |
14-15 May 44 |
Liri Valley
|
►Liri Valley |
18-30
May 44 |
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►Hitler Line |
18-24 May 44 |
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►Melfa Crossing |
24-25 May 44 |
|
►Torrice Crossroads |
30
May 44 |
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►Trasimene Line |
20-30 Jun 44 |
|
►Sanfatucchio |
20-21 Jun 44 |
Advance to Florence
Gothic Line
Winter Lines
Northwest Europe
Battle of Normandy
|
►Verrières Ridge-Tilly-- |
25 Jul 44 |
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►Quesnay Road |
10-11 Aug 44 |
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►St. Lambert-sur- |
19-22 Aug 44 |
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►Dives Crossing |
17-20 Aug 44 |
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►Forêt
de la Londe |
27-29 Aug 44 |
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►The Seine, 1944 |
25-28 Aug 44 |
Southern France
| ►Southern
France |
15-28
Aug 44 |
Channel Ports
The Scheldt
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►The Scheldt |
1 Oct-8 Nov 44 |
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►Leopold
Canal |
6-16
Oct-44 |
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►Savojaards Platt |
9-10
Oct 44 |
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►Breskens Pocket |
11 Oct
-3 Nov 44 |
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►Woensdrecht |
1-27
Oct 44 |
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►The Lower Maas |
20 Oct
-7 Nov 44 |
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►South Beveland |
24-31
Oct 44 |
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►Walcheren |
31 Oct
-4 Nov 44 |
|
Causeway |
. |
Nijmegen Salient
Rhineland
|
►The
Reichswald |
8-13 Feb 45 |
|
►Waal
Flats |
8-15 Feb 45 |
|
►Moyland
Wood |
14-21 Feb 45 |
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►Goch-Calcar
Road |
19-21 Feb 45 |
|
►The
Hochwald |
26
Feb- |
| . |
4
Mar 45 |
|
►Veen |
6-10 Mar 45 |
|
►Xanten |
8-9
Mar 45 |
Final Phase
|
►The Rhine |
23
Mar-1 Apr 45 |
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►Emmerich-Hoch
|
28
Mar-1 Apr 45 |
|
Elten |
. |
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►Twente Canal |
2-4 Apr
45 |
|
►Zutphen |
6-8 Apr
45 |
|
►Deventer |
8-11
Apr 45 |
|
►Apeldoorn |
11-17
Apr 45 |
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►Arnhem,
1945 |
12-14
Apr 45 |
|
►Groningen |
13-16
Apr 45 |
|
►Friesoythe |
14 Apr
45 |
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►Ijselmeer |
15-18
Apr 45 |
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►Küsten Canal |
17-24
Apr 45 |
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►Wagenborgen |
21-23
Apr 45 |
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►Delfzijl Pocket |
23
Apr-2 May 45 |
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►Leer |
28-29
Apr 45 |
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►Bad Zwischen |
23
Apr-4 May 45 |
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►Oldenburg |
27
Apr-5 May 45 |
Korean War
|
|
Domestic Missions |
|
►FLQ
Crisis |
|
International
Missions |
|
►ICCS
Vietnam 1973
►MFO
Sinai 1986- |
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Peacekeeping |
|
►UNTEA |
W. N. Guinea 1963-1964 |
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►ONUCA |
C. America
1989-1992 |
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►UNTAC |
Cambodia
1992-1993 |
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►UNMOP |
Prevlaka
1996-2001 |
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|
Exercises |
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Moerkerke
|
Moerkerke was a
Battle Honour granted to Canadian units participating in actions at
this town on the night of 13-14 Sep 1944, as part of the overall
battles to clear the Channel Ports.
Overview
The 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division, free of the close-in terrain
and high force concentrations in Normandy, enjoyed a long advance
from Normandy into Belgium alongside the British 2nd Army in the
opening weeks of Sep 1944. On 6 Sep, the division was organized into
two battle groups: STEWART Force and MONCEL Force and tasked with
pursuing the retreating German armies; the Canadians were to advance
on Eeklo, a town northwest of Ghent while the divisional recce unit,
the 12th Manitoba Dragoons, was to reconnoiter the coast. After the
battle at Moerbrugge, the Algonquins were ordered ahead to Moerkerke
in order to gain a bridgehead over the Leopold Canal. |
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German Forces
Infanterie Division 245 was mainly responsible for the defence of this
area.
The Battle
 The
Algonquins moved through the bridgehead created by STEWART Force during
the Moerbrugge fighting. The belief that the Germans were still in a
general retreat was reinforced by the tactical withdrawal of the
defenders at Moerbrugge. At Moerkerke, the Leopold Canal and the Canal
de Dérivation de la Lys were separated by only 60 feet and it was felt
that a surprise crossing of both these major water obstacles would be
successful.
Forty assault boats, crewed by soldiers of the Lincoln and Welland
Regiment, transported the Algonquins across the obstacles, with the
entire divisional artillery of the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division as
well as the divisional MG company (mortars and machine guns of the New
Brunswick Rangers) firing in support.
The two canals - each 90 feet wide
- were crossed just before midnight on 13 Sep under light harassing
fire. Engineers attempting to bridge the canals were stopped by
small arms fire, and at first light, artillery and mortar fire
intensified, preventing not only bridging operations but also
ammunition resupply attempts. Both battalion headquarters and the
Regimental Aid Post of the Algonquins were hit in Moerkerke. A
request for aerial resupply was denied due to lack of aircraft. By
1200, a withdrawal order was issued, and a heavy artillery barrage
and smoke screen was laid down to cover the move. Enemy troops had
infiltrated as far as the dyke separating the canals, and the
withdrawal was hampered by small groups of Germans along the way.
With most of the boats destroyed by Germans shelling, some men swam
back - without equipment. Some 240 men had crossed the bridgehead;
40 were wounded, 66 were taken prisoner, and 28 had been killed.1
Aftermath
The German divisional commander is quoted at length by Terry Copp:
On Sep (14) the Canadians
succeeded in forcing a bridgehead at Moerkerke which, if it had been
allowed to develop, would have not only cut short any further
evacuation through Breskens, but would have secured the vital ground
south of the Scheldt which commanded the estuary and which at this
stage the Germans were determined not to give up. When news reached
the Corps Commander, du Gilsa, he came down personally to Gen.
Sander at Lapscheure giving him the strictest instructions that the
bridgehead must at all costs be eliminated, promising him the Corps
reserve to help him achieve his task. During this time the division
was making every effort to eliminate the bridgehead without extra
aid but despite every attempt, the Canadians maintained their
precarious foothold. After the meeting between Corps and Divisional
commanders and before the Corps reserves could arrive, the Canadians
withdrew under cover of the most incredible artillery barrage that
Sanders had ever seen. No one was more surprised than he when at the
conclusion of this prodiguous effort, instead of renewal of the
conflict which he considered was imminent as a result from this
fire, he found the enemy had retired and had used this form of cover
to evacuate his troops. Not all the Canadians, however, were
evacuated and his division succeeded in taking 60 prisoners.2
Aftermath
The German commander had expected a full scale assault and was surprised
at both the intensity of Canadian artillery, and the fact that follow up
attacks never came. The Canadians had expected no resistance. The
Leopold Canal would be the site of another opposed crossing - but that
attack would not take place for another month, during the Battle of the
Scheldt. The 4th Division moved to the northeast as the 3rd Canadian
Infantry Division moved up to fight in the Breskens Pocket.
Battle Honours
The following Canadian units were awarded the Battle Honour "Moerkerke"
for participation in these actions:
4th Canadian Division
10th Canadian Infantry Brigade
Notes
- Copp, Terry A Canadian's Guide to the
Battlefields of Northwest Europe (The Laurier Centre for
Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies, Waterloo, ON, 1995) ISBN
096979553X
- Copp, Ibid, pp.110-111.
References
- Maps adapted from Graves, Donald E.
South Alberta: A Canadian Regiment at War (Robin Brass
Studios, Toronto, AB, 1998)
Photo Credit
- The photo is a Second World War
aerial photo, the overprint info comes from Copp, Terry A
Canadian's Guide to the Battlefields of Northwest Europe
(The Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies,
Waterloo, ON, 1995) ISBN 096979553X. It is believed use of this
image falls under legitimate fair use.
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