The Crossing of the Sloe Channel (p5/ 10)
Where the crossing was made the Sloe Channel was just a muddy and ambiguous creek. When the tide was in, the actual channel of salt water was about 300 yards broad. At low tide, however, this contracted to less than half, leaving on both sides stretches of grey and glutinous mud. Above the high water mark on the Walcheren side a salt marsh, green but treacherous, stretched more than 1,000 yards before firm ground could be reached.
Only foot soldiers without heavy equipment and personally conducted by sappers (pioneer or combat engineers) could ever hope to get across the channel.
When the decision to side-step the Causeway and create a diversion across the Sloe Channel was reached, pain-staking reconnaissance by sappers of The 202 Field Company led against the odds to the courageous taping of a path for guidance of the assaulting troops.
In the meantime, another party of sappers, challenging death at every step, were clearing a particularly thick and vicious minefield at the point on the Beveland side that had been chosen at the point of embarkation.
In a night-time attack, elements of the 6th Cameronians were soon across the Channel in assault boats to then follow the taped ground across the marshes. Thereafter, folding boats were launched and chestnut fencing laid across the mud-flats to allow reinforcements and equipment over to secure the bridge head. An earlier attempt to get ammunition and food over in Weasles (small amphibious craft) had failed.
Although the initial assault had taken the Germans completely by surprise, they reacted very quickly and by day break strong opposition was encountered.
By the evening of the 3rd November a good bridgehead had been secured, which had a marked effect on the battle for the Causeway to the North.
Under continuous pressure from the bridgehead and the troops on the Causeway enemy resistance began to flag, and early on 4th November the 6th Cameronians joined up with troops of the 157th Infantry Brigade, who had pushed beyond the Causeway and gained a footing on Walcheren.