49th(WR) Division 29-31 Jan 1945

Discussion in 'Higher Formations' started by Rob Dickers, Jun 6, 2009.

  1. Rob Dickers

    Rob Dickers 10th MEDIUM REGT RA

    Hi All
    Am trying to find out which operation the 49th Div were involved in on the Nijmegen Salient on 29th - 31st Jan 1944, (Think it was KAPELSCHE VEER ) but all I get on this is the 50th Div involvement, not 49th, a bit stuck, any info would be great thanks.
    Rob D :(
     
  2. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Hi Rob D

    I know a bit about this and will look it up and come back to you. A historian from Belgium I have corresponded with has given me some info.

    Cheers - Rob
     
  3. Rob Dickers

    Rob Dickers 10th MEDIUM REGT RA

    Cheers Again Rob
    You de man.
    Rob D.
     
  4. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Rob D

    Can't find what I'm looking for, but this tells you about Kapelsche Veer. I thought the 50th Division had been broken up by this time.

    The Battle For Kapelsche Veer: Army, Part 41 | Legion Magazine

    Here is a picture of a map of where Kapesche Veer is:-

    I have still to look for the info on the 49th.

    Cheers - Rob
     

    Attached Files:

  5. Rob Dickers

    Rob Dickers 10th MEDIUM REGT RA

    Rob
    Had a look at my stuff again,know that Kapelsche Veer was the main operation at this time, but I think what I'm looking for was just after. My War Diaries say the 10th Med put aside 1Bty + the other on call on the 30th Jan to support the 49th's Op and engaged targets on the 30/31.
    Rob D
     
  6. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Rob D

    I know that the Hallamshire Battalion of the Yorks & Lancs (49th Division) were on the "Island" at Haalderen, up to the 18th January 1945, having been there for a while. They then had 2 weeks rest at Nijmegen and went west to Zetten and Andelst. They were holding the line presumably with the rest of the 49th Division, while the remaining British units under Canadian First Army command were preparing for Operation Veritable which started Feb 8th.

    Unfortunately I gave my book on the 49th to someone as a thank you, so I can't be more specific than that.

    Cheers - Rob
     
  7. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Rob -
    I don't know a heeluva lot about the NWEurope campaign but i was interested in the 49th Div as my cousin was with them and was killed at Raurey in June ;44 and another firend managed to survive from Iceland to Germany -so the onnly book I have on their activities is that of Patrick delaforce who states at that time the 49thwere just norh on Nijmegen and their last battle was at Zetten - the battle outlined on Roberts map appears to be a Canadian show .

    Cheers
     
  8. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    The 49th were known to all and sundry, a little unfairly, as the "Nijmegen Homeguard".
     
  9. Rob Dickers

    Rob Dickers 10th MEDIUM REGT RA

    Thanks Lads
    I've just been back again to the Diaries and (me fathers!) regt was supporting the 49th (and 15th(S)Regt + firing on VERITABLE right up to the end of March 45 and became their sole Corps Arty under their command not the AGRA. so i'll have to get a book on the 49th or a good Web History to see what they were up to.
    Any Recc's
    Thanks again Rob D
     
  10. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Rob D

    Between April 12 - 16, they probably took part in Operation Quick Anger to support the 49th in crossing the River Ijssel, finally helping to capture Arnhem.

    Regards - Rob
     
  11. hallams

    hallams Junior Member

    Firstly I'm a new member so apologies beforehand for any mistakes made.
    My interest is seeking any photographic images of units of 49th Division taking part in the abovementioned operation. In particular the assault upon the village of Fontenay le Pesnel by, amongst others, the Hallamshire Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment.
    My deceased Father was a member of D Company, "Hallams". He was later badly wounded whilst "dug-in" in Tessel Wood. I've tried to trace the few serviving veterans of D Coy via the Regimental Museum but have had no luck.
    I've tried the Imperial War Museum who could not assist other than suggesting tracing private collections.
    I have some images from books including, The Polar Bears - Patrick Delaforce, Polar Bears From Sheffield - Don Scott,(the definitive work in my opinion) and the webpage - John Crooks War.
    Is there anybody in the Sheffield area, or anywhere else for that matter, who has any images?

    Andy
     
  12. idler

    idler GeneralList

    Rob -
    I don't know a heeluva lot about the NWEurope campaign but i was interested in the 49th Div as my cousin was with them and was killed at Raurey in June ;44 and another firend managed to survive from Iceland to Germany -so the onnly book I have on their activities is that of Patrick delaforce...

    Excuse the diversion but, Tom, have you seen Breaking the Panzers - the defence of Rauray by 1 Tyneside Scottish?
     
  13. idler

    idler GeneralList

    I've tried the Imperial War Museum who could not assist other than suggesting tracing private collections.

    It's odd that the IWM couldn't find anything. Open this page and stick 'fontenay' in as a keyword. I got 36 hits, most of which are films (but can't link the search result). These usually have quite detailed descriptions of their contents. It's not something I've done but if you go to view the films you can get stills from them. Good luck.
     
  14. Rob Dickers

    Rob Dickers 10th MEDIUM REGT RA

    Andy
    Have you tried a post on the Polar Bears Assoccation Web site, their Sec Dennis usualy comes back to you quite quickly.
    Click on guest-book and post. worth a try.
    Cheers
    Rob
    Link;
    Home
     
  15. Philip Reinders

    Philip Reinders Very Senior Member

    I will check my files maybe there is something in it, not sure, as most is The island.
     
  16. Rob Dickers

    Rob Dickers 10th MEDIUM REGT RA

    Just reading a report by the 1st Heavy AGRA that in the battles for KEPELSCHE VEER, Jan 1945,
    an estimated 60% of the shells fired by all the German artillery at this time were duds.
    A surprising amount i would have thought.
    No wonder they relied on the Mortar.
    Best
    Rob
     
  17. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

  18. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    From British 1 Corps Royal Artillery War Diary for January 1945 and a copy of a trace showing which RA Units were to be deployed for the Assault on Kapelsche Veer.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  19. Philip Reinders

    Philip Reinders Very Senior Member

    I shall see if I can find the amount of EOD stuff found since 1971 in this area
     
  20. Rob Dickers

    Rob Dickers 10th MEDIUM REGT RA

    4AGRA Diary - Kapelsche Veer

    [​IMG]
     

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