DESCRIPTION: The first allied convoy to dock at Antwerp reached the port on November 30th. Proceeded by destroyers and minesweepers of the royal navy, promptly to schedule, Antwerp, third greatest port in Europe, was one of the big strategic prizes of the lightening sweep into Holland, and is now shortening our supply routes by nearly 200 miles. The port lies barely 60 miles from the German frontier, has nearly 30 miles of births, 16 dry docks for ocean-going ships, and quays along the Scheldt for at least three miles. The first merchant ship of the convoy was the Fort Cataraqui, which berthed at dock 22 in the presence of Admiral Ramsay, Allied Naval Commander in Chief, high Allied military officers, the Burgomaster of Antwerp and a guard of honour of the Royal Marines. Many civilians of Anterp were present. British troops immediately started unbattening the hatches and off-loading the supplies of oil, cement and ordinance stores into waiting army lorries which were then rushed to the forward bases. Picture shows: Troops manhandling barrels of oil into position for the crane. (picture issued December 1944)