"A Tactical Commander's Finale: Maurice Andrew and the Perth Regiment's Assault on the Outerworks of Delfzijl", Dr. Chris Madsen, Assistant Director of Warfare Studies, Canadian Forces College, Toronto

 

The attack on the Dutch port and German naval fortress Delfzijl was the Perth Regiment's last battle of the Second World War. Canadian infantry went up against well-prepared defences, comprising coastal guns, minefields, and a garrison of determined naval personnel ready to fight for Führer and the German homeland. The task given to Lieutenant-Colonel Maurice Andrew, lawyer, militia officer, and the Perth's commanding officer since September 1944, was formidable. Capture of the port proper by other Canadian units hinged upon successful clearance of the northern approaches by the Perths. The infantry assault on Delfzijl's defensive works required all the lessons at the tactical level that Andrew and his troops had learned from months of hard-fighting against the Germans in Italy. This paper explores Andrew's command philosophy in the planning and execution of the attack. Delfzijl showed the culminating point of Canadian tactical proficiency in the face of a stubborn and far from defeated enemy. In recognition, Maurice Andrew received the Distinguished Service Order, and the Perths earned a well-deserved battle honour. Delfzijl remained a focal point for both man and regiment after the return to Stratford, Ontario in January 1946.