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 the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. During the Second World War, the division fought in several key battles making use of amphibious vehicles. These battles included the Normandy landing in June 1944, the Battle of the Scheldt in October 1944, and the Battle of the Rhineland in February 1945.

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.

The nickname was not well liked by the commander of the 1st Canadian Army, General H.D.G. Crerar, and is not widely mentioned in regimental histories.