49th (West Riding) Infantry Division

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by Smudge, Oct 12, 2010.

  1. Smudge

    Smudge Member

    Hi Tom

    Thanks for that little snippet of info; I'll post the photo over on the Italy forum it's probably more appropriate there. You may be able to ID the characters stood on the Panther? I'll also put a few questions that interest me if you can help...pick your brains a bit!

    Martyn
     
  2. Jamie78

    Jamie78 Junior Member

    Hi all, I'm new to this forum.

    I am doing a bit of family research and I'm struggling to find any detailed information about the 143rd Field Regiment RA. They were referred to in places in 'The Polar Bears - Monty's Left Flank' by Patrick Delaforce but not in any great detail. In his bibliography he refers to a 'History 143 (Kent Yeomanry) Field Regiment RA' by Bowring, Maj.E.R.H. but I have searched high and low for this to no avail. Any ideas would be very welcome!!

    Thanks :)
     
  3. Philip Reinders

    Philip Reinders Very Senior Member

    It is rare book, never seen it before either
     
  4. Jamie78

    Jamie78 Junior Member

    Thanks anyway Philip, I'll keep looking!
     
  5. Bala

    Bala Member

    JAMIE78 You may enjoy reading 'MIKE TARGET' by John Mercer Published 1990 by The Book Guild Ltd. The author served in 49 Div 274 Bty 185 Field Regt RA and the book covers his time from D-Day to Berlin

    My father served with the Hallamshires. They were mighty grateful for the Gunners Support
     
  6. Jamie78

    Jamie78 Junior Member

    Thanks for your reply BALA, I've now ordered the book and really looking forward to reading it.
     
  7. Sheldrake

    Sheldrake All over the place....

    It is rare book, never seen it before either

    I can't find it in either the Badley library nor Firepower. Nor could the late Will Townend because I am working on the Normandy volume of the RA History which he started and have his papers. Major ERH Bowring was the BC of 507 Battery.
     
  8. MRB

    MRB New Member

    Hopefully you found this by now but, if not, what you are looking for is actually a short chapter from the book "Yeoman Service" by Franklin Lushington which details the history of the Kent Yeomanry in WW2. 143 Field Regiment RA was the second line of the Kent Yeomanry in the war. The majority of the book is devoted to the 97th Field Regiment. Major ERH Bowring was my grandfather and I stumbled across this thread looking up his name on google!
     
    Rich Payne likes this.
  9. 123rd

    123rd Member

    Hi. Although I have been a member of this forum for a long time, I have just been a 'spectator' up to now. I am putting the finishing touches on my second book, but there is one elusive detail that I have been unable to discover. The accuracy and completeness of the book would benefit from having this last piece of information.

    What I know:

    Major-General Henry Curtis, O.C. 49th (West Riding) Division is credited with creating/authorizing the polar bear patch in mid-1940 when the 146th and 147th Infantry Brigades were assigned to garrison Iceland; the Division having just returned from the unsuccessful Norway landings. Other non-British units were sent to Iceland in mid-1940 to serve under the command of the 49th, and to receive combat training. Those include the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade, and in 1941, the American 1st Provisional Marine Brigade.

    At some point in 1940, the Canadian Regiments of the 4th Infantry Brigade were authorized by General Curtis to wear the polar bear patch as a sign of distinction (this distinction was also granted to the Marines later).

    What I don't know:

    I don't know when the distinction was authorized to the Canadians. Photographic evidence suggests that this distinction was granted before the Royal Regiment of Canada departed Iceland in October 1940, but I can find no record of the timing.

    Assistance please:

    Can anyone point me to a source that can confirm the approximate date when these patches were taken into wear by the Canadians?

    Dan
     

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