Canadian Forces

Flamethrower

Members of the Canadian 4th Armoured Division demonstrating the use of flame throwers across a canal, Maldegem, October 1944. The canal is named the 'Schipdonkkanaal'.It stretches for 56 km from Deinze till Zeebrugge(port).It was the scene of heavy battle first around Zomergem in may 1940,called Battle for the Leie.On the 26th of may the Germans managed to cross. During the retreat in september 1944 the Germans engaged in heavy batlle with Canadian forces at Balgerhoeke(part of the county of Maldegem-Adegem). In Adegem lies the Canadian War Cemetary,here lay buried 848 Canadians,256 British Commonwealth soldiers and 33 Polish soldiers.A yearly commemoration is held on the 2th sunday of september in their honor.There is also the Canada war Museum in honor of the 3 Canadian division who fought here. Greetz,brummbar