Flotilla Memorial - Ostend

1945 - Canadian and British torpedo boats explode in port.

On February 14, 1945, an explosion occurred behind the train station in Ostend's outer harbor, killing 26 Canadian and 36 British soldiers. At this point, Ostend had been liberated for half a year, but Canadian and British troops were still active in the port.

Very little is known about the exact circumstances. Earlier in the day, Canadian soldiers had transferred fuel from the ships. Maybe some of that fuel got into the water, caught fire and spread quickly. The fire was accompanied by several explosions. 5 Canadians from the 29th Canadian Motor Torpedo Fleet (MTB) and 7 British torpedo boats were completely destroyed. The damage to the docks and piers at the car ferry terminal and outer harbor was extensive.

A memorial service is held every year on February 14, the anniversary of the disaster.

21 known victims - 18 British and 3 Canadians - are buried in Ostend, 3 Canadians were later transferred to Adegem.

Motor torpedo boats (MTB) were small warships about 70 feet long and 20 feet wide . Equipped with powerful engines, torpedoes, light naval guns and machine guns, Canadian BTTs operated mainly at night in the Channel as fast attack ships , disrupting enemy shipping from occupied Europe and defending Allied shipping against attack ships, fast friends and German midget submarines. MTBs also played an important role on D-Day , helping to protect the vast Allied fleet from German warships.

The MTB crews had an extremely dangerous job : their ships were small, the Canal Sea was rough and German guns and mines were never far away.

Willem Vandenameele