Operation Suitcase: Essen (BE) & Nispen (NL) & Roosendaal (NL)

Operation ‘Suitcase’ commenced on the 20th of October and the Belgian town of Essen was taken two days later by the Algonquin Regiment. The advance was hindered by mines and road blocks. Enemy contact had been scarce so far. This changed dramatically after crossing the Dutch border at Nispen.

Operation ‘Suitcase’ was not an exclusively Canadian operation. The supporting force of the British 49th division, that was attached to the 4th division for the occasion, consisted of flame throwing Churchill tanks of the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry and Sherman flail tanks of the XXII Dragoons, both of which gave a good account of themselves, in these battles. Since 1945 the Canadian and British casualties are buried at the Bergen op Zoom Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery In the Netherlands and Geel War Grave Cemetery in Belgium.