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Between mid-September and 8 November 1944, the First Canadian Army fought to unlock the shipping route to the port of Antwerp and open a vital supply route to support the advance into Germany. Strong defences and the unique geography of the Scheldt Estuary this one of the most difficult battlefields of the Second World War. The Canadians and their allies advanced over a maze of narrow roads, canals, dykes and flooded lowlands. While the ground dictated that the infantry would bear the brunt of the battle, and indeed they did, the ground also dictated that the sappers would be front and centre in every action. |
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This is the fourth of five parts and tells the story of brave and gallant actions of the officers and men of the Royal Canadian Engineers during the Battle of the Scheldt. Collectively, sapper bravery was recognised with a DSO, eight MCs, a DCM, a DSM and 11 MMs.
Next: Part 5 - Tributes to the Fallen
These tributes were prepared by LCol Don Chipman (Ret'd) from official histories, war diaries and open sources.
Gallantry Award Recipients
- A/Cpl George Roy Wilson, 16th Fd Coy, Military Medal
- Cpl Finn Johansen 29th Fd Coy, Military Medal
- L/Cpl Carl Oscar Overby, 16th Fd Coy, Military Medal
- L/Sgt Albert Edward Yeates, 18th Field Company, Distinguished Conduct Medal
- L/Sgt Albert Gordon Alexander, 8th Field Squadron, Military Medal
- L/Sgt Bertram West, 2nd Field Company, Military Medal
- L/Sgt Patrick Jerome Jessome, 2nd Fd Coy, Distinguished Service Medal
- L/Sgt William Hurd Gunness, 11th Fd Coy, Military Medal
- Lt Alfred Edward Street, 2nd Field Company, Military Cross
- Lt Allan Boyd Mcadam, 8th Fd Sqn, Military Cross
- Lt Douglas Lawson Sarantos, 16th Field Company, Military Cross
- Lt Edward Thomas Galway, GM, 11th Fd Coy, Military Cross
- Lt Frederick Weight Philpot, 12th Field Company, Military Cross
- Lt Herbert Firman Ditchburn, 8th Fd Sqn, Military Cross
- Lt James Howard Alexander, 6th Field Company, Military Cross
- Lt John Arthur York, 12th Field Company, Military Cross
- Major Michael Hughs Charles W. Allan, 8th Fd Sqn, Distinguished Service Order
- Sgt Norman Henry Loiselle, 2nd Field Company, Military Medal
- Sgt Peter Willigen, 6th Field Company, Military Medal
- Sgt Philip Macphail, 8th Fd Sqn, Military Medal
- Spr John Henry Hawkins 29th Fd Coy, Military Medal
- Spr Leo Schan, 1st Mech Eqpt Coy, Military Medal