Water Rats

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the Australian TV series, see Water Rats (TV series).

For the animal, see Water Rat.

For the British charity, see Grand Order of Water Rats

"Water Rats" referres to a nickname given to Canadian soldiers who fought in the Battle of the Scheldt.

During World War II in late 1944 the Canadian First Army fought the Battle of the Scheldt to clear the down stream approaches to Antwerp which had been liberated shortly before the start of Operation Market Garden. Once cleared the very large port of Antwerp was able to replace the Red Ball Express as the main supply route for all the supplies the Western Allies needed for the invasion of Germany.

Because of the flooded, muddy terrain and the tenacity of the well-fortified German defences made the Battle of the Scheldt especially gruelling and bloody for the Canadians. They were given the nickname "Water Rats" by the press in honour of this struggle, which was considered to be a nickname of similar grandeur to that of the Desert Rats. Indeed, the battle is considered by some historians to have been waged on the most difficult battlefield of the Second World War. At the end of the five-week offensive, the victorious Canadian First Army had taken 41,043 prisoners, but suffered 12,873 casualties (killed, wounded, or missing), 6,367 of whom were Canadians.