This military division was formed on April 1, 1908 as the West Riding Division in the Territorial Force of the British Army. Symbol of the Polish 1st Legions Infantry Division in NATO code A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of around ten to fifteen thousand soldiers. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... In the United Kingdom the Territorial Army is a part of the British Army composed of reserve units, or part-time soldiers. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ...

49th (West Riding) Infantry Division
49th Infantry Brigade Logo
Active:	1908 - 1967
Country:	Great Britain
Branch:	Territorial Army
Type:	Infantry
Culture and history
Nickname:	The Polar Bears
Notable battles or wars:	Battle of Normandy

Image File history File links 49th_Inf_Brigade_(Logo_Polar_Bears). ... Image File history File links 49th_Inf_Brigade_(Logo_Polar_Bears). ... In the United Kingdom the Territorial Army is a part of the British Army composed of reserve units, or part-time soldiers. ... Combatants Allied Powers Nazi Germany Commanders Dwight D. Eisenhower (Supreme Allied Commander) Bernard Montgomery (land) Bertram Ramsay (sea) Trafford Leigh-Mallory (air) Gerd von Rundstedt (OB WEST) Erwin Rommel (Heeresgruppe B) Strength 326,000 (by June 11) Unknown, probably some 1,000,000 in France by early June, but split...

History

In 1915, it was designated the 49th (West Riding) Division, and it fought during World War I in France and Flanders. 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The British 49th (West Riding) Division was a Territorial Army division that was sent to France in April 1915 and served on the Western Front for the duration of the First World War. ... Combatants Allied Powers: British Empire France Italy Russia United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary Bulgaria Germany Ottoman Empire Casualties Military dead: 5 million Military dead: 4 million The First World War, also known as The Great War, The War to End All Wars, and World War I (abbreviated WWI) was... Flanders (Dutch: Vlaanderen) has several main meanings: the social, political and cultural community of the Flemings, through its social and political organizations, its media, universities, ... ; some prefer to call this the Flemish community, other refers to this as the Flemish nation; a constituent governing institution of the federal Belgian...

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

During the Second World warit remained in the United Kingdom until June 1944, when it moved to Normandy under the command of XXX Corps. Throughout 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. During the war the 49th infantry division had the nickname 'the Polar Bears' because of their logo (Obviously enough). Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... Combatants Allied Powers Nazi Germany Commanders Dwight D. Eisenhower (Supreme Allied Commander) Bernard Montgomery (land) Bertram Ramsay (sea) Trafford Leigh-Mallory (air) Gerd von Rundstedt (OB WEST) Erwin Rommel (Heeresgruppe B) Strength 326,000 (by June 11) Unknown, probably some 1,000,000 in France by early June, but split... The XXX Corps was an infantry corps in the British Army. ... Combatants Allies: Soviet Union United States United Kingdom and others Axis Powers: Germany Japan Italy and others Commanders Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Harry S. Truman Winston Churchill Adolf Hitler Hideki Tojo Benito Mussolini Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000,000 Total dead: 50,000,000 Military... The British I Corps has a long history, and was in existence as an active formation in the British Army for longer than any other corps. ...

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): 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... In the United Kingdom the Territorial Army is a part of the British Army composed of reserve units, or part-time soldiers. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... Nottingham is a city (and county town of Nottinghamshire) in the East Midlands of England. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ...

• 8 (Yorkshire) Armoured Brigade
• 146 (West Riding) Infantry Brigade
• 147 (Midland) Lorried Infantry Brigade

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. 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Leeds is a major city in the northern English county of Yorkshire in the United Kingdom and the urban core of the City of Leeds metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ...

World War II

Composition

• 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.)

146th Infantry Brigade

(1939-1945)

• • 4th Battalion The Lincolnshire Regiment
  • 1/4th Battalion Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
  • Hallamshire Battalion The York and Lancaster Regiment

The Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Army. ... The York and Lancaster Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army. ...

147th Infantry Brigade

(1939-1945)

• • 1/5th Battalion The West Yorkshire Regiment
  • 1/6th Battalion The Duke of Wellingtons Regiment
  • 1/7th Battalion Duke of Wellingtons Regt
  • 11th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers
  • 1st Battalion The Leicestershire Regiment

The West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Waless Own) (the 14th of Foot) amalgamated with the East Yorkshire Regiment (the 15th of Foot) in 1958 to form The Prince of Waless Own Regiment of Yorkshire. ... The Royal Scots Fusiliers is a Regiment of the British army. ...

148th Infantry Brigade

(1939-Apr 1940)

• • 1/5th Battalion The Leicestershire Regiment
  • 1/5th Battalion The Sherwood Foresters
  • 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters
  • 2nd Battalion The South Wales Borderers

The South Wales Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army. ...

70th Infantry Brigade

(May 1942-Aug 1944) The 70th Infantry Brigade was a Territorial Army unit during the Second World War . ...

56th Infantry Brigade

(Aug 1944-1945) A Second World War British Army unit. ...

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)

Sources

• Regiments.org Summary and Lineage
• Composition of the 49th Division
• Generals of World War II