​​​Despite objections from Major Anthony Compton-Lundie, who recognised the dangers, the attack on Wagenborgen was ordered to proceed.

​At 02:10, D Company advanced towards Wagenborgen, facing heavy resistance almost immediately. Artillery and machine-gun fire pinned the company down, and attempts to advance through ditches and along the edges of fields proved futile. The German forces, supported by coastal artillery, inflicted severe casualties. A platoon led by Sergeant Dodd managed to reach the outskirts of the village but was cut off and eventually forced to surrender. By mid-afternoon, D Company had been reduced to just eight combat-ready soldiers, with numerous wounded left behind.

​The tactical headquarters and a medical post were established at Geert Smit’s farm, but this location became a target for German artillery. Around 19:00, the farm was struck by multiple shells, collapsing the building and setting it ablaze. Eleven Canadian soldiers trapped inside, many already wounded, perished in the fire. Major Compton-Lundie, Lieutenant Huscroft, and Captain Innes were among those killed. Acting Sergeant George Hugh Jackson displayed extraordinary bravery, rescuing several wounded under heavy fire before further attempts became impossible. For his actions, he was later awarded the Military Medal.

​The losses were devastating: fifteen soldiers killed, 21 wounded, and fifteen taken prisoner, nearly all from D Company. The company was temporarily disbanded, its remnants reorganised into a new position. Meanwhile, reinforcements from A, B, and C Companies were ordered to strengthen the Wagenborgen front, with patrols intensifying in the days that followed. After three days of severe fighting, the town of Wagenborgen was liberated on 23 April 1945. The events at Wagenborgen remain a reminder of the high cost of the war’s final battles.​