49th (West Riding) Infantry Division

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This military division was formed on April 1, 1908 as the West Riding Division in the Territorial Force of the British Army.

49th (West Riding) Infantry Division

Active 1908 - 1967
Country United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Branch British Army
Territorial Army
Type Infantry
Armoured from 1945
Nickname The Polar Bears (WWII)
Engagements World War I
World War II
Battle honours Somme (1916)
Normandy
The Odon
Scheldt
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Maj.Gen.G.H.A.MacMillan
Insignia
Identification
symbol		 Image:British 49th (West Riding) Division insignia.png World War I
Identification
symbol		 World War II

Contents

[edit] First World War

In 1915, it was designated the 49th (West Riding) Division and given the White Rose of York as its insignia. The division fought during World War I in France and Flanders and in World War II.

After the Second World War it remained with the Northern Command, containing the 146th, 147th, and 148th Brigades (1st, 2nd, and 3rd West Riding Brigades, respectively).

[edit] Formation 1914 - 1918

146th (West Riding) Brigade 
147th (2nd West Riding) Brigade 
148th (3rd West Riding) Brigade 
Pioneers 

[edit] Second World War

During the Second World war, the Division first saw action beginning on April 15-17, 1940 when two of its brigades took part in the short and ill-fated landings in Norway that were intended to retake the ports of Trondheim and Narvik from the Germans. Following their withdrawal from Norway in May 1940, they were stationed in Iceland, where the Divisions 146th Infantry Brigade and 147th Infantry Brigade[1] were deployed adopted as its insignia the Polar Bear on an ice floe. In 1942 the Division was transferred back to the United Kingdom until June 1944, when it moved to Normandy under the command of XXX Corps. Through the rest of World War II, it was reorganized frequently, and was under the command of the I Corps, the II Canadian Corps, and the I Canadian Corps. Its last major contribution to the war was in the Liberation of Arnhem and the fierce battles that led to it. During the fighting on the Continent, the 49th Infantry Division was nicknamed 'the Polar Bears' because of their logo. The Germans nicknamed them the 'Polar Bear Butchers' due to their ferocity in the Normandy campaign.

[edit] Formation 1939 - 1945

  • 49 Reconnaissance Regiment, RAC
  • 228, 229, 230, 294, 756, 757 Field Company, RE
  • 231 & 289 Field Park Company, RE
  • 23 Bridging Platoon, RE
  • 49 Divisional Signals, RSC
  • 69, 70, 71, 74, 79, 80, 143, 178, 185 Field Regiment, RA
  • 55, 58, 88 Anti-Tank Regiment, RA
  • 89, 118 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA
  • 2nd Battalion, The Kensington Regiment (M.G.)
  • 49 Royal army Service Corps ( R.A.S.C )

[edit] 146th Infantry Brigade

(1939-1945)

[edit] 147th Infantry Brigade

(1939-1945)

[edit] 148th Infantry Brigade

(1939-Apr 1940)

[edit] 70th Infantry Brigade

(May 1942-Aug 1944)

  • 10th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
  • 11th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
  • 12th Bn. Durham light Infantry
  • 1st Bn. The Tyneside Scottish

[edit] 56th Infantry Brigade

(Aug 1944-1945)

[edit] Commanders

Dates in American form (mm.dd.yyyy) indicating the date they entered the command (or resumed command when there are multiple dates).

  • Maj. Gen. Pierse J. Mackesy - 09.03.1939
  • Maj. Gen. Harry O. Curtis - 06.10.1940
  • Brig. Neville P. Procter - 04.12.1943 (Acting)
  • Maj. Gen. Sir Evelyn W. Barker - 04.30.1943
  • Maj. Gen. Sir Gordon H.A. MacMillan - 11.30.1944, 02.06.1945
  • Brig. R.H. Senior - 01.27.1945 & 03.24.1945 (Acting)
  • Maj. Gen. Stuart B. Rawlins - 03.28.1945, 04.27.1945
  • Brig. Edward N. Crosse - 04.18.1945 (Acting)
  • Brig. H. Wood - 08.23.1945 (Acting)

[edit] Post 1945

The division was disbanded in Germany in 1946, but reformed in the Territorial Army in 1947, having been renamed the 49th (West Riding) Armoured Division. It was based in Nottingham, consisting of (on April 1, 1947):

In 1956, it was renamed the 49th (West Riding and Midland) Infantry Division, its base moved to Leeds, and the 8th Armoured Brigade was removed from its order of battle. Finally, it underwent its last major change in 1961, when it was renamed to the 49th (West Riding and North Midland) Division/District, and the 147th Infantry Brigade was removed from its composition. The unit finally disbanded in 1967.


[edit] See also


[edit] References

[edit] External links