Vector of Memory: Bridge to the final opposition in Knokke

Bridge to the final opposition in Knokke
After the liberation of Oostburg on 29 October 1944, the Canadians were left with one last obstacle; the drainage canal near Retranchement. The Hickman Bridge, built by the Royal Canadian Engineers, was named by the engineers after their fallen sergeant. After the completion of the bridge, Canadian troops were able to eliminate the last pockets of resistance around Knokke, finally liberating all of Belgium on 4 November. Operation Switchback was thus successfully completed.

Despite their work remaining unknown, the supporting troops made a contribution to the Canadian victory that could not be underestimated. For example, the engineers worked day in and day out to make the roads passable. The work was extremely dangerous due to the many mines and booby traps. For example, the commander of 6th Field Company Royal Canadian Engineers, Major T.R. Murphy, was injured on 31 October 1944 while building the bridge over the drainage canal 'Uitwateringskanaal' near Retranchement. The tragedy began with No. 2 Platoon checking the road from Zuidzande to Retranchement for mines. Without much trouble they reached Retranchement.

However, the place where the bridge over the drainage canal was to be was full of mines. No. 3 Platoon made a more extensive reconnaissance of the spot where the bridge was planned. They soon came under enemy fire from across the canal. Despite the dangerous conditions, the bridge was built. As a result of continuous German shelling of the construction site, engineers Harvey, Scott, and Slak were wounded. Genist Williams was unlucky enough to jump into a foxhole that contained a mine. Both his feet were badly mangled. Sergeant John L. Hickman died as a result of the explosion of a mortar shell near him. The Bailey Bridge over the 'Uitwateringskanaal' was named after him by his comrades. A monument commemorates the Hickman Bridge today.

With the completion of the Hickman Bridge, the Canadian units could advance to the last part of Belgium that had not yet been liberated, the area around Knokke. The commander of the German troops in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, Major-General Eberding, together with his staff, was captured in Knokke on 31 October 1944. On 2 November, the last German support point in western Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, Stützpunkt Cadzand-Badhuis, fell. The last German units surrendered at Zeebrugge in Belgium on 3 November. The battle was finally over!


Liberation Route Europe is a certified Cultural Route of the Council of Europe. With hundreds of sites and stories in nine European countries, the route links the main regions along the advance of the Allied Forces in 1943-1945.
The entire route consists of themed routes that can be travelled by by hiking, walking, cycling and car. These routes pass numerous historical and interesting sites and tell stories from a multitude of perspectives that were important in the final phase of World War II.

A separate group within the routes are the Vectors of Memory designed by renowned architect Daniel Libeskind. They form a symbolic family of landmarks that honor people, places and stories in the European landscape. The vectors are a topography of memory. They act as points in both space and time and connect to the liberation story. It is important that the markers convey a clear and powerful message.

There are 4 types of vectors:
- The Remembrance Site Vector
- The Crossroads Vector
- The Wall Vector
- The Floor Vector

For more information on the Vectors of Memory see the Liberation Route Europe site: https://www.lre-foundation.org/vectors-of-memory/.
The routes can be found on the website of Liberation Route Europe or in the app through which many stories can also be listened to.

The routes can be found on the Liberation Route Europe website or in the app through which many stories can also be listened to.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar & Liberation Route Europe
• Photos: Arjan Vrieze