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27-634: The Veerse Gat or Veeregat was the sea channel between Walcheren and Noord-Beveland islands in Zeeland in the Netherlands . In 1961 as part of the Delta Plan it was blocked off by the Veerse Gatdam and made into an inland lake called Veerse Meer . 51°32′49″N 3°40′30″E  /  51.54694°N 3.67500°E  / 51.54694; 3.67500 This article about

54-595: A disease called "Walcheren Fever", thought to be a combination of malaria and typhus , compared to only 106 men to enemy action. The French and Dutch defenders, meanwhile, suffered approximately 4,000 men killed, wounded or captured. With the strategic reasons for the campaign gone and the worsening conditions, the British withdrew in December. Strategically situated at the mouth of the River Scheldt , Walcheren

81-661: A diversion for the hard-pressed Austrians. However, the Battle of Wagram had already occurred before the start of the campaign and the Austrians had effectively already lost the war. John Pitt, 2nd Earl of Chatham commanded the army, whilst Sir Richard Strachan commanded the navy, the full expeditionary force of 37 ships, the greatest to have ever left England, leaving The Downs on 28 July. Commanders included Hugh Downman , Edward Codrington , Amelius Beauclerk , William Charles Fahie , George Cockburn and George Dundas . As

108-445: A divided command over a motley crew of units manned by soldiers of many nationalities spanning French-occupied Europe. There were a few French units among those present considered to be of inferior quality as they were manned by the physically infirm and dregs of the training depots. However, on 10 August 1809, as reinforcements began flowing into the invasion zone, Napoleon approved the appointment of Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte ,

135-441: A first move, the British seized the swampy island of Walcheren at the mouth of river Scheldt , as well as South Beveland island, both in the present-day Netherlands . The British troops soon began to suffer from "Walcheren fever", due to the symptoms present most likely a combination of malaria , typhus , typhoid and dysentery . Within a month of seizing the island, they had over 8,000 fever cases. The medical provisions for

162-665: A location in Zeeland is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Walcheren Originally, Walcheren was an island, but the Sloedam , constructed in 1871 for a railway, and poldering after World War II have connected it to the (former) island of Zuid-Beveland , which in turn was connected to the North Brabant mainland by the Kreekrakdam (Completed in 1867). The Veerse Gatdam , completed in 1961, has connected Walcheren to Noord-Beveland . Walcheren

189-404: A mile-long land bridge from South Beveland to the island. The Canadian Black Watch sent a company across on the evening of 31 October, but was stopped. The Calgary Highlanders sent two companies over in succession, the second attack opening up a bridgehead on the island. The Highlanders were eventually thrown back, having lost 64 killed and wounded. Le Régiment de Maisonneuve relieved them on

216-456: A permanent doubling of the sick lists there. This campaign led to the plant known as Thanet cress being introduced to Britain in the sick men's bedding. The debacle was also a source of acute political embarrassment, in particular for Lord Castlereagh upon whom the former United Irishman , Peter Finnerty , who at the invitation of Sir Home Popham accompanied the expedition as a special correspondent for The Morning Chronicle , heaped

243-574: Is first attested in Latinized spelling, such as villam Walichrum ca. 790 and Vualacra ca. 837. Germanic spellings start appearing around the High Middle Ages , like Old Dutch Walacheri ca. 1150. The name is most likely a compound of *wal(a)c , meaning "moist", and *heri/*hara , indicating a sandy ridge. Another, less likely theory suggests that the name derives from Walhaz , the name Germans used for Romans. The Romans called

270-574: The Austrians in their efforts against Napoleon and attack the French Navy fleet moored at Flushing . The expedition turned into a disaster, as although British troops captured Flushing the Austrians had already been decisively defeated at the Battle of Wagram in early July and were suing for peace. Meanwhile, the French fleet had moved to Antwerp , and the expeditionary lost over 4,000 men to

297-598: The North Sea and landed at Walcheren on 30   July. This was the largest British expedition of that year, larger than the army serving in the Peninsular War in the Iberian Peninsula . Nevertheless, it failed to achieve any of its goals. The campaign involved little fighting, but heavy losses from the sickness popularly dubbed "Walcheren Fever" . Although more than 4,000 British troops died during

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324-470: The third rate , participated under the overall command of Strachan. A number of smaller vessels including customs-house and excise cutters were also involved, as was a packet ship . The City of London, Loyal Greenwich, and Royal Harbour River Fencibles also contributed men to the expedition. The 1st battalion of the Irish Legion (raised by the French for an invasion of Ireland that never happened)

351-682: The English Channel. The Duke of Parma had occupied Antwerp , a deep water port. However, access to this port was blocked by Dutch rebels and English fighters who occupied Walcheren. As a result, the armada could not be resupplied nor could it seek shelter at Antwerp. Facing dwindling supplies, Admiral Medina-Sedonia fled northward, ending the threat to the English. Under the Secret Treaty of Dover , concluded in 1670 between Charles II of England and Louis XIV of France , England

378-528: The Prince of Ponte Corvo , who had recently resigned his command after incurring Napoleon's displeasure at the Battle of Wagram as overall commander of the invasion zone. Bernadotte had returned to Paris and was sent to defend the Netherlands by the council of ministers. His arrival gave the French a much-needed unity of command and he brought with him a genius for organization and training. Bernadotte led

405-601: The RAF bombed the sea wall at Westkapelle causing the Inundation of Walcheren . The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division cleared South Beveland to the east and approached the island on 31 October 1944. The plan was to cross the Sloe Channel, but leading troops of the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade found that assault boats were useless in the deep mud of the channel. The only route open was the 40 metre wide Walcheren Causeway ,

432-492: The blame. The below order of battle is for 28 July. The French local forces were not organised into a separate corps of observation till the later part of the year, but were organised as such by the end of the campaign and are therefore shown here. Note: According to Smith pp. 294–301, the artillery came from the following regiments: 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 8th Foot Artillery and 4th and 5th Horse Artillery. A fleet of around 40 vessels, including sixteen 74 gun warships of

459-875: The causeway, followed by the 1st Battalion, Glasgow Highlanders of the British 52nd Infantry Division . Meanwhile, on 1 November 1944, British Commandos landed in the village of Westkapelle in order to silence the German coastal batteries looking out over the Scheldt . The amphibious assault ( Operation Infatuate ) proved a success and by 8 November, all German resistance on the island had ceased. [REDACTED] Topographic map of Walcheren, 2015-2016. Click to enlarge. 51°31′17″N 3°34′56″E  /  51.52139°N 3.58222°E  / 51.52139; 3.58222 Walcheren Campaign The Walcheren Campaign ( Dutch pronunciation: [ˈʋɑlxərə(n)] )

486-531: The expedition proved inadequate despite reports that an occupying French force had lost 80% of its numbers a few years earlier, also due to disease. Once it had been decided to garrison Walcheren Island in September 1809, Pitt was replaced by Lieutenant-general Eyre Coote who in October was replaced by Lieutenant-general George Don . At the time of the initial landings, the French forces were characterized by

513-562: The expedition, only 106 were killed in action ; the survivors withdrew on 9   December. Defending Franco-Dutch forces also suffered heavy casualties, including 4,000 men dead, wounded or captured. In July 1809, the British decided to seal the mouth of the Scheldt to prevent the port of Antwerp being used as a base against them. The primary aim of the campaign was to destroy the French fleet thought to be in Flushing whilst providing

540-551: The island "Wallacra". As early as Roman times, the island functioned as a point of departure for ships going to Britain ; it had a temple of the goddess Nehalennia who was popular with those who braved the waters of the North Sea. Walcheren became the seat of the Danish Viking Harald (fl. 841–842), who conquered what would become the Netherlands together with his brother Rorik (fl. 842–873) (or Rurik ) in

567-532: The ninth century. One fringe theory has it that Ahmad ibn Rustah (fl. 10th century) described Walcheren when reporting on the seat of the Rus' Khaganate . Another fringe theory mentions Walcheren as the seat of Hades , described by Homer . The island played a role in the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. The Spanish fleet was not able to be supported by deep water ports along the continental side of

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594-420: The reinforced and reorganized French forces competently and although the British had captured Flushing on the day of his arrival to the war zone after a ferocious bombardment, and the surrounding towns on 15 August, he had already ordered the French fleet to Antwerp and heavily reinforced the city. The French numbers were such that the main objective for the British, Antwerp, was now out of reach. The expedition

621-799: Was an unsuccessful British expedition to the Kingdom of Holland in 1809 intended to open another front in the Austrian Empire 's struggle with France during the War of the Fifth Coalition . John Pitt, 2nd Earl of Chatham , the commander of the expedition, was ordered to capture the towns of Flushing and Antwerp and thus enable British ships to safely traverse the Scheldt River . A British expeditionary force of 39,000 troops, together with field artillery and two siege trains, crossed

648-547: Was called off in early September. Around 12,000 troops stayed on Walcheren, but by October only 5,500 remained fit for duty. In all, the British government spent almost £8 million on the campaign. Along with the 4,000 men who had died during the campaign, almost 12,000 were still ill by February 1810 and many others remained permanently weakened. Those sent to the Peninsular War to join Wellington 's army caused

675-519: Was stationed in Flushing during the assault and received its baptism of fire there. It fought a rear guard action for several days but the battalion was almost completely captured. The Legion's brass band followed by the Irish battalion led the surrendered French garrison out of the town. However, a small party of Irishmen escaped and went into hiding with the battalion's cherished imperial eagle, and after

702-614: Was supposed to get possession of Walcheren as well as the isle of Cadzand , as the reward for helping France in the then impending war against the Dutch Republic. In the event, the Dutch resistance — much stronger than anticipated — managed to repulse the French-English attack, and the treaty was not implemented. Beginning on 30 July 1809, a British expeditionary force of 39,000 men landed on Walcheren , intending to assist

729-454: Was the key that allowed use of the deep-water port of Antwerp , located further upstream on the right bank of the southern estuary of the river. It was fought over during World War II in 1940 between Dutch and German troops in the Battle of the Netherlands , and again in 1944 in the Battle of Walcheren Causeway , the fourth and final stage of the Battle of the Scheldt . On 3 October 1944

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