The Capture of Veere (P7/ 10)
The assault by the 155th Brigade on Vlissingen and their occupation of Middelburg, combined with Commando landings at West Kappele on the west coast of the island, resulted in the cessation of all organised enemy resistance – with the exception of a small pocket at Veere. This port on the north-east of the island was being used by the enemy to evacuate technicians and other key personnel to North Beveland and thence to Schowen (another island further north).
It fell to the 7th Cameronians to liquidate this last area of enemy resistance. The Battalion passed through the 157th Infantry Brigade, that was holding the Causeway bridgehead, at mid-day on November 5, and advanced on Veere. Almost immediately they were met by a surrendering column of 600 Germans carrying white flags. Enemy small arms fire from the outskirts of Veere showed that some Germans were still holding out.
Fighting patrols were sent forward to the outskirts of the town and ‘B’ Company advanced to the sea-lock gates of the Middelburg Canal, where some very sharp skirmishes took place. Later in the day the the battalion crossed the canal in assault boats, under sniper fire. A Senior German NCO prisoner was sent with a note demanding the surrender of the town and its garrison. No reply was received and, following heavy bombardment of the located defences to the south of the town, preparations were made for an assault. As the advance was about to commence white flags appeared, and the remainder of the German Garrison – 16 Officers and 670 men – marched in to surrender.
Except for rounding up a few isolated ‘pockets’ of enemy resistance this ended the Cameronians action on Walcheren.