#Story
Operation Cannonshot
This monument pays tribute to the Canadians who launched the liberation of the western Netherlands here on 11 April 1945, by crossing the River IJssel.
First, the infantry crossed in amphibious vehicles; then a pontoon bridge was constructed. Watched by numerous Gorssel residents, a continuous column of Buffaloes carrying infantry and light artillery of the 48th Highlanders of Canada drove for days from Joppelaan via Molenweg and Veerweg to the bridge.
Gorssel had already been liberated on 6 April 1945 by the 1st Canadian Army under the command of General Crerar. The spontaneous celebrations with music and dancing in the tent outside De Roskam could only take place a week later, as heavy fighting was still ongoing. The plan was to cross the IJssel near Gorssel after the liberation of Zutphen and Deventer. For this purpose, troops and equipment were assembled in the woods near Joppe. After several reconnaissance missions identified suitable landing sites, the operation began on 11 April 1945 at around 16:30. Under the cover of a dense smoke screen, 27 Buffaloes (amphibious tracked vehicles), each carrying 24 infantrymen of the 48th Highlanders of Canada, crossed the river. Within seven minutes, they had secured two bridgeheads on the opposite bank. At 17:20, Captain Frost reported that the situation was ‘snug’.
Construction of the pontoon bridge could then begin from the Timber Wall and was completed by around 11 p.m. Over the following days, 15,000 troops and 1,500 vehicles crossed the river via the bridge in a continuous flow. The 106 Sherman tanks were too heavy for the bridge and had to be ferried across on special pontoons.
Dommerholt Farm on Houtwal became a smouldering ruin, and many farms on the far side of the IJssel were also destroyed. Captured German soldiers were made to clear landmines along the riverbanks. Each year, a memorial service is held at the monument on 4 May. Understandably, the number of Canadian veterans attending has greatly diminished, today, it is mostly their descendants who come. Further along Ravensweerdweg, you will find an information board on the right-hand side about the bombing of Gorssel on 18 March 1945. (This text was produced in cooperation with Mr Roel Hendriks.)