On 10 September 1944, the German forces blew up the bridges crossing the Leopold canal. In Moerkerke, in the Belgian province of West Flanders, the Moerkerke church tower was demolished by German artillery and the area was being flooded.

The soldiers of the Canadian Algonquin Regiment marched from  Moerbrugge to Sijsele on 12 September. This was the longest march to take place in one day according to the regiment’s war diaries. At 22:00 on 13 September, some 360 soldiers crossed the Schipdonk & Leopold canal with their assault boats. They were trying to establish a stronghold on the northern bank.

However, the soldiers met with heavy resistance from the German forces, which ended in soldier-to-soldier combat. They were consequently ordered to withdraw the next day.

During this battle, the Algonquins lost a large number of soldiers, some of whom are still missing today. The monument here remembers their efforts.