Ex Magpie Progress 25 - 49 West Riding Division Memorial

The 49th (West Riding) Division Memorial is located on the bank of the Yser Canal adjacent to  the Essex Farm Cemetery.

49 (West Riding) Division Memorial 
Ypres Canal 

49 (West Riding) Division Memorial 

It is dedicated to the memory of more than 9,500 men killed whilst serving with the 49th (West Riding) Division during World War One. At least 1,000 of those died between 7 July and 31 December 1915 when the Division first manned the trenches north of Ypres.

To the memory

of all ranks of

the 49th West Riding Division

who gave their lives for

King and Country

in the Great War

1914-1918

The memorial records the Battles in which the 49th (West Riding) Division were engaged;

1915: Aubers / Ypres

1916: The Somme / Thiepval / Schwaben Redoubt

1917: Nieuport / Poelcapelle 

1918: Neuve Eglise / Kemmel/ Wijtschate / River Selle / Valenciennes

The 49th (West Riding) Divisional Artillery included;

• Divisional Artillery HQ: Red House, Marygate, York

• I West Riding Brigade RFA - HQ Leeds -> Batteries @ Leeds 

• II West Riding Brigade, RFA–HQ Bradford -> Batteries @ Bradford / Halifax / Heckmondwike 

• III West Riding Brigade, RFA - HQ  Sheffield -> Batteries @ Sheffield 

• IV West Riding (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA –HQ Otley -> Batteries @ Otley / Ilkley

National Memorial Arboretum 2024

 The United Kingdom National Arboretum is situated in Staffordshire aims to provide a place where people can reflect, celebrate lives lived and commemorate lives lost in service.

The Arboretum site covers 150 acres of woodland and gardens planted on reclaimed land. There around  400 memorials that acknowledge the personal sacrifices made by the Armed Forces, emergency services and civilian organisations of the UK. 

The Arboretum is part of the Royal British Legion who are responsible for its maintenance and operation.

Royal British Legion Poppy Memorial

The largest memorial at the Arboretum is the Armed Forces Memorial which commemorates the 16,000 personnel who have lost their lives on active service since the Second World War. 

Armed Forces Memorial

Armed Forces Memorial

The Arboretum's memorials include civilian organisations involved in conflict. One of memorials is dedicated to the Scouts which provided messenger services, guarded key points and helped in a myriad of tasks during both World Wars,.

Boy Scout messenger World War One

Scouting Memorial

Scouting Memorial

The Arboretum's first memorial was the Polar Bear Association Memorial which was dedicated in June 1998. The Polar Bears were the 49th (West Riding) Division who were stationed in Iceland from 1941 to 1943. They deployed to Normandy in 1944 and involved in the North West Europe Campaign. It's order of battle included 70 Infantry Brigade which consisted of the 10th and 11th Battalions Durham Light Infantry and 1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish (Black Watch).

Polar Bear Memorial IJ

Polar Bear Memorial

One of the most recent commemorations is a road named after Captain Sir Tom Moore who  raised nearly £33 million  for charity in the run-up to his 100th birthday during the COVID-19 pandemic. He served in India and the Burma campaign during the Second World War, and later became an instructor in armoured warfare. 

Captain Sir Tom Moore

The Arboretum is bounded on the East by the River Tame. The grounds contain over 50,000 trees as well as many varieties of fauna. 

National Arboretum River Tame

National Arboretum Forest

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