Clearing Up. (P9/ 10)
Following the German capitulation, for the 7th Cameronians and the 156th Brigade there followed a period of about three weeks garrison duty on Walcheren.
The Brigade Commander became Military Governor of Walcheren. All troops other than the 156th Brigade and a force of sappers were withdrawn for duties elsewhere.
Brigade headquarters moved to Middelburg, the 6th Cameronians to Vlissingen; the 7th Cameronians occupied Arnamuiden and Veere and the 4/5th Royal Scots Fusiliers – Nieuwdorp.
As noted earlier, prior to the assault on the island the Sea Dykes had been heavily damaged by the RAF. This combined with the German inundations had resulted in the whole of Walcheren west of a line Veere – Middelburg- Vlissingen being from two to eight feet under the sea -except for a few isolated areas.
The tasks given to the 156th Brigade were:
(i) To rescue about 2,000 British Commando troops, several thousand Dutch Civiians and about 800 German soldiers, all of whom were stranded in the flooded areas. A lower priority was the best of the pedigree Freisian cattle for which the island is famous.
(ii) To open up road, water and rail communications.
(iii) To remove all mines which were scattered everywhere and causing casualties every day among the troops and civilians.
(iv) To assist the Dutch Authorities to re-establish civil administration.
On 21st November the 6th and 7th Cameronians moved to Goes on South Beveland where they re-organised and re-fitted in preparation for further operations.
On 27th November, the 156th Brigade left South Beveland to take over the defence of the Lower Maas near s’Hertogenbosch.
No incidents of operational importance occurred in this sector and on 5th December the Brigade was moved to the area around Geilenkirchen – the only town of any size in the small strip of Germany then held by the Allies. Here the Brigade was destined ‘to hold the line’ until the middle of January. But that is another story……….