47 cdo Walcheren

Attacking formidable German defences

The previous page was: "47 Commando Returns"

The seizure of the island of Walcheren was carried out by No. 47 Commando Royal Marines under Lieutenant-Colonel C. F. Phillips, No. 41 Commando Royal Marines and No. 48 Commando Royal Marines they formed up with No. 4 Army Commando to make the 4th Special Services Brigade.

They were backed to the hilt by the three Services: Royal Navy, Army and the Royal Air Force. Here are the stories of their actions.

The last of the three Royal Marines Commandos to set foot on Walcheren was No. 47 Commando Royal Marines. They were under heavy shell fire from the moment they approached the island.

Due to the disturbance of the heavy shell fire and confusion three of the landing craft had to land on the North instead of the south side of the gap.

This was a serious matter; for several hundred yards of swiftly running bullet lashed water separated them from the point at which they were due to begin their advance southwards towards Flushing, to link up with No. 4 Commando.

However they did have a little time; they could not set off until the capture of Zouteland was confirmed, because their assistance might be needed there.

47 Commando Returns

After 48's triumph at Zouteland

The Commandos that had landed in the right place, when they touched the shore four of their tracked amphibious vehicles were destroyed by enemy fire.

It took four hours for all of 47 Commando to assemble behind a huge sand dune. They still had seventeen of their Buffalo vehicles out of twenty but only three out of twenty of their Weasel vehicles.

They had lost or had destroyed all of their wireless equipment, but casualties had fortunately not been heavy.

After 48's triumph at Zouteland, No. 47 Commando were able to move towards their objective. At the outer defences of Flushing they called upon support for Artillery fire and air attacks, but these were not forth coming owing to low clouds, strong winds and heavy rain.

Without support they attacked 'Q' and 'Z' troops to the left lost twelve commandos killed and many wounded including Major J. T. E. Vincent.

On the right where the Commandos were moving along the dunes close to the sea where they made good progress; until they came under mortar fire which wounded three of their officers.

They continued to attack their side of the battery outside of Flushing.

The situation remained obscure

The situation remained obscure and that night 47 Commando beat off a counter attack on both fronts.

Not until the third day from their landing did the defences of the battery on the outer defences of Flushing fall.

All of the prisoners were suffering from shock because of the hammering they had taken. Many of the prisoners were half out of their minds; the pupils of their eyes were so diluted that their whites were almost invisible.

After the capture of this battery the enemies resistance weakened, and grew less when a number of German officers called upon those left in the garrison to surrender.

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47 Commando met up with No. 4

That evening No. 47 Commando met up with No. 4 Commando which had the task of capturing the greater part of Flushing.

The Royal Marines Commandos continued the work of subduing the enemy in the west of Walcheren until a dawn attack on battery W.19 at the northern end of the island; this was overcome with the assistance of No. 4 Commando which had moved from Flushing to the reinforcement of the Royal Marines.

This period was one of steady fighting and not a few casualties. Lieutenant-Colonel Pugh said: "for me the most tragic moment in the war, was during the mopping up. A landing craft with thirty Commando soldiers on board met a submerged mine and blew up; there were no survivors."

Walcheren was in our hands

The Marines went doggedly about their work, accepting the surrender of the enemy when it was offered; but attacking him with skill, fire and resolution wherever the Germans showed a tendency to resist.

The entire capture of Walcheren was slow due to the weather conditions; a gale blew hard on the third day and the rain was heavy. The mounting number of prisoners who had to be fed, and guarded; was made awkward because of the conditions of supply. The presence of every where mine fields didn't help; but in the early afternoon of the eighth day all was over.

Walcheren was in our hands so were two-thousand nine-hundred Germans.

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47 Commando Walcheren 48 Commando Walcheren

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