Loonies and Leicesters WTO (id:#58818)

Sherry Enterprises (Schwerpunkt #10 ID: SP116)   [next]   [previous]

Mendicité, Belgium 1944-09-29 (1 other)

Overview:

The Canadian 6th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division passed through the British 49th Division bridgehead across the Antwerp-Turnhout Canal. Its objective was to seize the Depot de Mendicité located between Ryckevorsel and Merxplas. The position consisted of a barracks combined with a prison, a workhouse, and a lunatic asylum sited on farmland ringed by deep ditches and a rather large moat. Here, the German 719th Infantry Division made its stand. The Leicesters’ lead company was nearly annihilated on an attack on the 28th. Another attempt began at dawn on the 29th. Major Peter Upcher led D Company across the moat and into the heart of the German position.. . . .Germans area defending the area of an asylum. Time is of the essence for the attacking British who must secure the objective while both sides try to avoid injuring the many escaped mental patients wandering the battlefield.

Defender: German (Elements 719th Infantry Division & 280th Assault Gun Bde)  

Errata (source)