“We Did Not Know What to Expect”
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INFATUATE In Westkapelle veterans look back on the operation, which was the start of the liberation of Walcheren. “We did not know what to expect” Veterans with rows of medals on their chest and green berets on their grey heads dominated the scene yesterday afternoon in and around the Westkapelle Polderhuis. The official opening of the Liberty Bridge was the reason for the Marines who participated in Operation Infatuate in 1944, to again return to the village. Among them, three old comrades Ted Battley (87), Ernie Staphnill (92) and Arthur Thompson (87). Old, but still in good spirit, is what they made clear immediately. Their hearing lets them down at times, but none of them lacks the characteristic British humour. Because, as Ted says, "If you do not laugh, you can only cry and that's not good at all”. All three remember the dark night in early November 1944 when the landings of the allied forces were deployed. They draw a picture of deprivation, fear and uncertainty. Ernie: "We really did not know what to expect. We came from the mother ship and were brought ashore in amphibious vehicles. The larger Buffaloes were not too bad, but the smaller ones were terrible. The tide had risen, it was dark and the wind was blowing hard. Thus the sea was very rough. Moreover, we were from the coastal line shot at by German snipers. We were all soaked and cold. We had to go through the gap in the dike to country and even farther from Zoutelande to Flushing. It was a nightmare for many. You could see and hear around you, comrades killed or injured, but you could not stop or return. Ted got himself badly injured during the landing. He shattered his leg when the amphibious vehicle in which he sat was lifted by the waves and thrown down again. "I had to go on and when I finally arrived at the beach, I had to stay and wait there for three days. Surrounded by other wounded and under constant threat of German gunners in the surrounding bunkers. I do not know very much about those three days, because I was given a lot of morphine. All the wounded were to stay on the beach, the hospital ship had been sunk and there was no transport possible ". Eventually Ted spent eighteen months in the hospital. But despite all the misery that the three have experienced, they have a positive outlook on life. Arthur: "We have done what needed to be done and the result was of course the liberation of Walcheren. At that time we did not know what's happened in Westkapelle. That was perhaps just as well. People ask if we were scared. Yes, of course we were. Someone who says he was not, is 'Completely mad’. " Once we got back in England was no to little talk about what the Marines had experienced in Westkappelle. "It was not talked about. Only since the fortieth anniversary of the liberation we were able to talk about it. "Since then these gentlemen annually return to Westkapelle in November. They feel at home now. Ernie: "Your memories are gone, but your life goes on. This is also true if someone in your family dies. Then you have a period of mourning, but you do not stop living. " Liberty Bridge to honour fallen Marines With the official opening of the Liberty Bridge yesterday afternoon at the West Kapelsesteenweg Polder Museum, the British Marines who died in November 1944 have their own monument. On stone platforms in the wooden bridge, the names of 161 Marines who died during Operation Infatuate have been engraved. This operation at the time was the start of the liberation of Walcheren. The short, violent conflict remains one of the ten most important dates in the history of the Royal Marines, founded in 1664. Reverend Joe King, honorary chaplain of 48 Royal Marine Commando, dedicated the bridge with reflections, prayer and singing. The official opening ceremony was then carried out by the British veteran Major John Sturgis. He cut the rope to give free access to the monument. The British veterans first entered the bridge, which connects the museum with the tank memorial on the dike in Westkapelle. An emotional climb, because many of them saw the names of fallen comrades for the first time there. Marines who were part of 41, 47, and 48 Commando, and the Support Squadron Eastern Flank. A sad list of Marines of who most died at a young age. Many of them, at the time of death, between 18 and 25 years of age. It is the first time that the names of the men literally appear from oblivion. The war memorial was created by donations from individuals and funds both from England, Netherlands and Germany. The Wasschappelse Heiploeg built the Liberty Bridge, which now connects Westkapelle indefinitely with the Royal Marines. .