A permanent reminder

On 2 November 1944, the British 51st Highland Division was ordered to take the area north of the Afwateringskanaal from 's-Hertogenbosch to Drongelen. The operation, Guy Fawkes, was carefully prepared. First, the infantrymen had to cross the canal in boats, then bridges were to be laid to allow heavier equipment and reinforcements to be brought in. The operation was scheduled to begin on Saturday 4 November.

However, the preparations soon ran into problems. On 3 November, the first canvas boats for the 5th Battalion Black Watch arrived at the canal. North of Achterste Distelberg things immediately went wrong. As soon as it was dark, three German soldiers crossed the canal in a rubber boat, managing to cut open four boats. Soldiers from the neighbouring battalion were supposed to keep an eye on things, but they arrived too late. Fortunately, new ones arrived in time but the element of surprise was now lost, something which became abundantly clear the next day.

At 15:00, the Black Watch at Achterste Distelberg were hiding among the bushes, ready to cross. At Anny's Hoeve, somewhat to the west, the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders were in similar positions. At 16:35, a heavy artillery bombardment of the eastern part of the Langstraat began. Ten minutes later, two other battalions began crossing left and right of the Steegerf. Half an hour later, it was the turn of the Black Watch and the Gordon Highlanders. The Black Watch experienced a perilous adventure, with German machine guns opening fire and a Panzerfaust (hand-held antitank weapon) hitting the forward boat. Several men were hit and eventually six killed, temporarily buried in a field grave. However, after this incident the crossing continues smoothly. Operation Guy Fawkes was ultimately a success and the next evening the whole area was liberated. 

On 10 May 1946, the six Black Watch were transferred to the large war cemetery near Bergen op Zoom. Locals erected and maintain a monument at Achterste Distelberg near the original site, and there is also a short memorial every year on 5 November. The sacrifice of the Black Watch has not been forgotten by locals.