National Arboretum - 49th (West Riding) Division Memorial

 

National Memorial Arboretum
49th (West Riding) Division Memorial

The 49th (West Riding) Division was a Territorial Army formation which mobilised at the beginning of World War Two. 

It undertook home defence duties before two of it's three Brigades were sent to Norway. The operation in Norway failed, and the two brigades returned to the UK in May 1940.  The Division was re-constituted with 146 Brigade and 147 Brigade, and sent to Iceland in May / June 1940. It was joined in October 1940 by 70 Brigade which consisted of the 10th and 11th Battalions Durham Light Infantry, plus 1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish (Black Watch). 

49th Division Iceland

49 Division Iceland
Tyneside Scottish Pipe Band

The 49th Division adopted a Polar Bear standing on an ice flow as the divisional insignia.

49(West Riding) Division Polar Bear

At the end of 1941  Divisional units began handing over the responsibility for the defence of Iceland to the US Marines, By April 1942, all units had returned to the UK. The 49th was reconstituted in South Wales and began to prepare for the invasion of Europe. 

The appointment of a new GOC in May 1943 saw the adoption of a more aggressive Polar Bear as the divisional insignia. 

49 (West Riding) Division Polar Bear

On 6th June 1944 Allied Forces landed in Normandy, the start of the liberation of Europe. The 49th Division was a follow on Division which began arriving on Gold Beach on 12th June 1944. They would undertake operations as part of the capture of Caen and breakout from the Normandy Bridgehead. 

49 (West Riding) Division
Normandy 1944

The Divisions first major operation was OPERTION MARTLET. The 49th were tasked with the capture of the Rauray Spur in order to protect the right flank of OPERATION EPSOM which was intended to seize Caen.

Operation Martlet began on 25th June. The 1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish were initially in reserve.  Once committed to the battle they fought actions around Tessel Wood  and Brettevillette  before digging in south of the village of Rauray to prepare for a German Counter attack.

On 1st July 1944 the 49th Division successfully blocked German SS Panzer troops from breaking through the British line. The 1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish would win the battle honour ' Defence of Rauray'.

The 49th Division Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum features a Polar Bear, the divisional insignia. 

49th (West Riding) Division Memorial Polar Bear

The memorial records the battle areas where it the division fought. This includes Tessel Wood and Rauray where the 1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish were engaged. 

49th (West Riding) Division Memorial
Battle Areas - Tessel Wood and Rauray

The memorial features the units that fought with the Division, the 70th Brigade panel showing the 10th and 11th Battalions Durham Light Infantry and the The 1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish (Black Watch). 

49th (West Riding) Division Memorial
70th and 56th Brigade 

49th (West Riding) Division Memorial
1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish (Black Watch)

As a result of the losses in Normandy the 1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish (Black Watch) was placed in suspended animation and it's personnel posted to other battalions of the Black Watch. The 70th Brigade was disbanded in October 1944 and replaced by the 56th Brigade. The Division advanced through North West Europe, their last major engagement was in April 1945 in the battles to liberate Arnhem.

On the 7th May 1944 just after the signing of the German Surrender, troops of the 49th Division liberated Utrecht.

49th (West Riding) Division
Liberation of Utrecht May 7th 1945

RA Service of Remembrance 2023 NMA

 Royal Regiment of Artillery

Service of Remembrance

National Memorial Arboretum

2023

RA Service of Remembrance IJ

RA Service of Remembrance 
Royal Artillery Association Standard Bearers

RA Service of Remembrance 
TS Branch RAA Standard Bearer

RA Service of Remembrance 
Lancashire Artillery Band

RA Service of Remembrance 
Lancashire Artillery Band

RA Service of Remembrance 
RA Regimental Colonel / RA Regimental Secretary

RA Service of Remembrance
Wreath Laying

RA Service of Remembrance
Royal Artillery Memorial NMA

Let us remember with thanksgiving and honour

before God and man

all ranks of the Royal Regiment of Artillery

who have died giving their lives

in the Service of their Sovereign and their Country

We will Remmber them

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RA Service of Remembrance
TS Branch RAA

Yorkshire - VC Memorial

Middlesborough VC Memorial

 The Middlesborough VC Memorial is located adjacent to the towns War Memorial.

The centre piece is a statue of Company Sergeant Major Stanley Hollis who won the only VC on D-Day. He was serving with the  6th Battalion, The Green Howards, when they landed on Gold Beach, King Sector, shortly after 07:30 on 6th June 1944. He was awarded the VC for two actions. Firstly for clearing a pill box and trenches north of Ver-Sur-Mer, and secondly for rescuing comrades under fire in the village of Crepon.

Middlesborough VC Memorial
CSM Stan Hollis VC statuette

His VC citation records his gallantry;

In Normandy on 6 June 1944 Company Sergeant-Major Hollis went with his company commander to investigate two German pill-boxes which had been by-passed as the company moved inland from the beaches. "Hollis instantly rushed straight at the pillbox, firing his Sten gun into the first pill-box, He jumped on top of the pillbox, re-charged his magazine, threw a grenade in through the door and fired his Sten gun into it, killing two Germans and taking the remainder prisoners.

Later the same day... C.S.M. Hollis pushed right forward to engage the [field] gun with a PIAT [anti-tank weapon] from a house at 50 yards range... He later found that two of his men had stayed behind in the house...In full view of the enemy who were continually firing at him, he went forward alone...distract their attention from the other men. Under cover of his diversion, the two men were able to get back.

Wherever the fighting was heaviest...[he]...appeared, displaying the utmost gallantry... It was largely through his heroism and resource that the Company's objectives were gained and casualties were not heavier. ....he saved the lives of many of his men.

"No. 36658". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 August 1944. pp. 3807–3808.

Stan Hollis VC Middlesborough VC Memorial

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In the grounds of the Dorman Museum adjacent to the Middlesborough VC Memorial is a statue dedicated to Private Tom Dresser VC. Tom Dresser was serving with 7th Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own) when they were engaged in fighting near Roeux, during the Battle of Arras on the 12th May 1917 when he won his Victoria Cross. 

Tom Dresser VC Statue Middlesborough

His VC citation records his gallantry;

On 12 May 1917 near Roeux, France, Private Dresser, in spite of having been twice wounded on the way and suffering great pain, succeeded in conveying an important message from battalion headquarters to the front line trenches, which he eventually reached in an exhausted condition. His fearlessness and determination to deliver this message at all costs proved of the greatest value to his battalion at a critical period.

"No. 30154". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 June 1917. p. 6382.

Private Tom Dresser VC

Private Tom Dresser VC presentation
from King George V 

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In the paving surrounding the Middlesborough VC Memorial are plaques recording the recipients of the Victoria Cross from the town. One of those plaques is dedicated to Sergeant William McNally who is the most decorated of those commemorated. McNally was awarded the Military Medal and Bar, as well as the Victoria Cross during his service in World War One. 

William McNally enlisted into the  8th (Service) Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own) on 3rd September 1914. The Battalion were part of 69 Brigade in the 23rd Division, deploying to France in August 1915.

During the Battle of the Somme at Contalmaison on 10th July 1916 he was awarded the  the Military Medal for assisting  an officer who was wounded in the thigh and dragged him back to safety. On 3rd November 1917, he won a bar to his Military Medal for bravery near Passchendaele. On three separate occasions, he rescued men who had been wounded or buried by enemy shellfire in the trenches.  

In November 1917 the 23rd Division moved to northern Italy where it then remained until the end of the war. In October 1918 the Division, including the 8th Yorkshires, were fighting north east of the River Piave. During the period 27th and 29th October 1918 he performed three separate acts of gallantry which resulted in the award of the Victoria Cross. 

Middlesborough VC Memorial Plaque
Sgt William McNally VC MM and Bar

His VC citation records his gallantry;

On 27 October 1918 at Piave River, Italy, when his company was most seriously hindered by machine-gun fire, Sergeant McNally, regardless of personal safety, rushed the machine-gun post single-handed, killing the team and capturing the gun. Later, at Vazzola on 29 October the sergeant crept up to the rear of an enemy post, put the garrison to flight and captured the machine-gun. On the same day, when holding a newly captured ditch, he was strongly counter-attacked from both flanks, but coolly controlling the fire of his party, he frustrated that attack, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy.

 "No. 31067". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 December 1918. p. 14776.

Sergeant William McNally VC MM and Bar

Yorkshire - Middlesborough War Memorials

 The Middlesbrough Cenotaph is located outside the entrance gates to Albert Park in front of the Dorman Museum. It commemorates the local men who died in the First and Second World Wars and other conflicts. 

Middlesborough Cenotaph Albert Park Gates

On either side of the entrance to Albert Park are 24 bronze panels which record the names of  3,137 men and women who lost their lives in the First World War dead. In includes 1,107 men from the Yorkshire Regiment.

Middlesborough Cenotaph and Bronze Panels

Middlesborough Cenotaph Bronze Panel

The design of the memorial is based on the Cenotaph in London and was unveiled on 11th November 1922. 

Middlesborough Cenotaph unveiling 11 Nov 1922

The north face bears the inscription THE GLORIOUS DEAD 1914–1919.

Middlesborough Cenotaph
WW1 1914-1919 Inscription

After the Second World War the cenotaph was rededicated and the south face inscribed with the epitaph THE GLORIOUS DEAD 1939–1945.

Middlesborough Cenotaph
 WW2 1939-1945 Inscription

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During the Crimean War the Russian city of Sevastopol was besieged from October 1854 to September 1855 before falling to British and French  troops. Captured cannons seized were sent to many towns in Britain and across the Empire. One cannon is located in Albert Park Middlesborough.

Middlesborough Albert Park Sevastopol Cannon IJ

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The  Dorman Memorial Museum in Middlesbrough is dedicated to the memory of Lieutenant George Lockwood Dorman and his comrades of the Yorkshire Regiment who lost their lives during the Boer War 1899-1901.

Dolman Memorial Museum Middlesborough

Lieutenant Dorman served with the 3rd Battalion, Alexandra Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment). He died of an intestinal problem at Kroonstad in the Orange Free State on 30th March 1901 aged 21. He was the son of the industrialist Sir Arthur Dorman who co-founded Dorman Long and Co Ltd and funded the building of the museum.  It was opened on 1st July 1904 by Colonel Hoole of the Yorkshire Regiment.

Dolman Memorial Museum Middlesborough
Opening Ceremony 1st July 1904

Dolman Memorial Museum Middlesborough
Opening Ceremony Programme

The Middlesbrough Boer War Memorial is located in Albert Park commemorating Lieutenant GL Dorman and those men from Middlesborough who lost their lives in South Africa.

Middlesborough Boer War Memorial Albert Park

A bronze panel details TO THE MEMORY OF THE MIDDLESBROUGH MEN

WHO WERE KILLED IN ACTION OR DIED OF WOUNDSOR DISEASE IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR A.D. 1899 - 1901 and records the names of those who were lost.

Middlesborough Boer War Memorial Albert Park

The memorial was unveiled on 7th June 1905 by Lieutenant-General Sir H M Leslie-Rundle, General Officer Commanding Northern Command.

Middlesborough Boer War Memorial Albert Park
Unveiling 7th June 1905

Middlesborough Boer War Memorial Albert Park

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In the Albert Park Middlesborough a Remembrance garden is dedicated to "To All Who Gave Their Lives For Our Country". 

Middlesborough Albert Park  Remembrance Garden 

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Middlesborough Albert Park Clock

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The sundial in Albert Park Middlesbrough was donated by Henry Bolckow, a local industrialist who became the town's Mayor and its first Member of Parliament. Three faces show the time in Middlesbrough,, New York City and Melbourne.

Middlesborough Albert Park Sun Dial
New York time