21st December 1944 the Germans established a small bridgehead here. For 5 weeks, partly due to bad weather conditions, approximately 1000 people were killed or wounded because of fierce German resistance and repeated attacks by Polish, British and Canadian troops. The tree on the mound behind the memorial can clearly be seen on a aerial wartime photo that I saw in Groesbeek museum later in the day.
My great uncle (Major Herbert Owen Lambert MC) led "A" co. of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment in the initial attack..he was killed Jan. 26 1945 during the attack. He won the Military Cross for his part in leading an attack in Bergen Op Zoom. I am trying to research more about him but I'm hitting to many dead ends.
