British Anti-Aircraft Memorial Doel

The British Monument was erected in honor of the British anti-aircraft defense and the RAF as a tribute and reference to the liberation of the Waasland and the Zeeschelde.In September 1944 most of the villages and towns of the Waasland were liberated by the 1st Polish Armored Division. On September 8, 1944, the English carried out a first attack on the harbor of Doel. On October 17, 1944, British troops installed themselves at Doel. With the anti-aircraft guns, the searchlights and barrage balloons, the city and port of Antwerp were defended against the flying bombs.On the Scheldt dike of Doel, among others, the British anti-aircraft guns set up their guns against the German V1 and V2 weapons at the port of Antwerp, which was vital for the Allies. Later, barrier balloons also defended the port of Antwerp. Not only Antwerp was protected, but all of East Flanders. The efforts of British air defenses day and night limited the loss of life and material damage caused by the flying bombs.It was not until November 26, 1944 that the first ship would enter the port of Antwerp. Before that, heavy fighting was fought around Breskens and the island of Walcheren. The Allies lost 700 officers and 12,000 soldiers in the offensive.The siege around the Antwerp harbor and the Zeeschelde by flying bombs or German V1s and V2 rockets would last from October 1944 to the end of March 1945. The terror reached its peak in February 1945. A large-scale operation, under the name Anti- Flying Bomb Command Antwerp X, was set up with British and American anti-aircraft batteries to protect the city and its harbour.

A Monument to the British Liberators. It is a national memorial to all British troops who were along the Scheldt.Text on the plaque at the front of the monument:
(Photo 2) To the glory of the British Anti Aircraft Batteries and the R.A.F. along the ScheldtPlaques are attached around the Monument with the following text:
(Photo 3) Tribute to our British liberators Sept '44 May '45 The grateful population(Photo 4) In honor of the British anti-aircraft defenses on the Scheldt and the R.A.F.(Photo 5) This Monument was erected under the protection of St Edm. Jonckheere, Mayor and the sacrificial functioning of St. Marc. D` Hondt, Honorary Citizen of Doel, with the support of the Touring Club of Belgium.
20 – 6 – ‘48The monument has been moved to the dike along the Scheldt and can be reached via the walking and cycling path.Source: tracesofwar.nl/sights/5169/Brits-Oorlogsmonument-Doel.htm

The Doel monument is located on the Scheldedijk in the shadow of the Nuclear Power Plant at the end of the towpath.
The signs state:
“To the glory of the British anti aircraft batteries and the RAF along the Scheldt”
“In honor of the British anti-aircraft defenses on the Scheldt and the RAF”
“This monument was erected under the patronage of St Edm. Jonckheere, Mayor and the sacrificial functioning of Saint Marc d'hondt, honorary citizen of Doel with the support of the Touring Club of Belgium – 20.6.48”
Since 1948, this memorial has honored the British efforts to protect the region from V-1 terror. With their Bofors AA guns they fired on the flying unmanned aerial vehicles, hoping to explode them in mid-air.