By 31 October 1944, all the lands surrounding the Scheldt estuary had been cleared of German control, save for Walcheren Island, whose coastal batteries still commanded the approaches to the waterway. Walcheren Island was connected to South Beveland by a narrow causeway, 40 meters wide and 1600 meters long.
The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division had marched west along the South Beveland isthmus and by the 31st had cleared all German opposition from South Beveland.
German defence of the causeway was exceedigly fierce and the attack stalled.
To support the Second Canadian Infantry Division on the Sloedam Causeway, it was decided to surprise the German units on the Walcheren side by means of a night attack on their rear, across the heavily mined water and mud flats of the Sloe Channel. During the night of Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd November, 1944 soldiers of the 6th Battalion of the Cameronians crossed the Sloe Channel about 2 kilometers south of the Causeway.
This secret assault, codenamed Operation Mallard, was successful. The Germans believing that an attack across the Sloe was not tactically feasible, were unprepared and were forced to retreat.
The diversionary action by the 6th Cameronians allowed the Second Canadian Infantry Division on the Causeway to gain ground, and on the 5th of November the Germans withdrew.
A hero of the assault across the Sloe was ‘Rifleman Khan’ (War Dog 147).
Hans van Dam has written a full account of the treacherous crossing and the incident which led to Rifleman Khan being awarded the Dickin Medal (the animal V.C.) His permission to share his work is gratefully acknowledged.
After the War, The Cameronians were awarded “The Freedom of Lanark”. Muldoon and Khan marched at the head of the parade.