Progress of the First Canadian Army to clear coastal belt and retake the Channel ports
The Allied advance during the second half of August
stretched the supply lines enormously. All of the requirements of the now
highly mobile army were being brought in by way of the Mulberry harbour many
miles away from the front lines. This rapidly changing military situation, as
the Allies pursued the Germans back towards Germany, demanded that the Channel
ports of the Pas-de-Calais be delivered into the hands of the Allies at the
earliest opportunity in order to shorten and strengthen the crucial supply
lines.
On 6th September General Montgomery signalled to
General Crerar, Commander of the First Canadian Army, the following request:
‘Would be very
grateful for your opinion on the likelihood of early capture of Boulogne. It
looks as if port of Antwerp may be unusable for some time as the Germans are
holding islands at the mouth of the Scheldt. Immediate opening of some port
north of Dieppe essential for rapid development of my plan and I want Boulogne
badly. What are the chances of getting it soon?’
Plans for the deployment of the First Canadian Army were
discussed and agreed on 9th September at a conference with
Montgomery, attended by Generals Crerar, Dempsey and Hodges. General Crerar
noted later in his diary ‘Decisions affecting the First Cdn Army were reached
i.e. speedy capture of Channel ports within First Cdn Army boundary’.
In order to support the favourable military situation that
existed in early September, Crerar issued a directive to his Corps commanders
that stated:
‘It follows that a
speedy and victorious conclusion to the war now depends, fundamentally, upon
the capture by First Cdn Army of the Channel ports which have now become so
essential, if the administrative problem is to be solved, i.e. Le Havre,
Boulogne, Dunkirk, Calais and generally in that order of importance
- 1 Brit Corps will attack and capture Le Havre on 10/11 Sep – unless unfavourable weather conditions entail a further delay. On completion of this important operation, 1 Brit Corps will re-organise and re-equip in the vicinity of Le Harve , pending an improvement in the administrative situation which will permit the movement of this formation to the Eastern sector of First Cdn Army area.
- 2nd Cdn Corps has already been directed to proceed, without delay, to Capture Boulogne, Dunkirk and Calais, preferably in that order, but without prejudice to the earlier and easier capture of any one of them. If no weakness in the defences of these ports is discovered, and decisively exploited, in the course of operational reconnaissance - then a deliberate attack, with full fire support will require to be staged, in each case.
- In view of the necessity to give first priority to the capture of the Channel ports, mentioned above, the capture or destruction of the enemy remaining North and East of the Ghent-Bruges Canal becomes secondary in importance. While constant pressure and close contact with the enemy, now withdrawing North of R. Scheldt, will be maintained, important forces will not be committed to offensive action.
The task of capturing Le Havre was allotted to two infantry
divisions of the 1 British Corps, namely the 49th (West Riding)
Division and the 51st (Highland) Division with the support of 34 Tank
Brigade and 33 Armoured Brigade respectively.
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