On 21 November, after the liberation of Kessel, the Scots moved further north towards the hamlet of De Donk. In the nearby woods they encountered German resistance. It came to a gunfight in which four Scots were killed. The fifth was killed in a misunderstanding when he returned that same 21 November from a reconnaissance mission on the still occupied east bank of the river Meuse. He wanted to rejoin his unit. Because he had forgotten the password or failed to respond to a recognition sign or instruction from the guard, he was shot dead.
Originally, the soldiers were buried in 'De Donk'. In October 1946, they were reburied on the British Field of Honour in Venray.