Major Glyn Gilbert, OC 'C' Company recalled:
'Up the bank we scrambled lugging our boats and easing them down the steep slope into the water. The enemy response was immediate and fierce. Very heavy mortar fire opened up directed at the canal and village and several MG and a 20mm were firing on fixed lined down the canal. We immediately suffered heavy casualties crossing the bank. The boat on my right received a direct mortar bomb hit. We left two sunken boats and over 70 NCOs and men killed and wounded in the canal and on the banks. George Bennett had most of his jaw shot off. Peter London and Denis Querky, two platoon commanders, were dead. The Germans fought a good action at little loss to themselves.'