February 1940
The division got orders to form part of "Avonforce" and be sent to finland via Norway to aid the Finnish army during its winter war with the Soviet Union.
on 12 March the Finnish severely outnumbered by the Soviet Union surrendered thus cancelling the order.
on 12 March the Finnish severely outnumbered by the Soviet Union surrendered thus cancelling the order.
15-17 april 1940.
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The division first saw action in Norway, were two brigades (146th and 148th) took part in actions to retake the ports of Trondheim and Narvik.
the 146th came under command of "Mauriceforce". the 148th came under command of "Sickleforce" These actions were no match for the "new" German army. the campaign, poorly planned was a complete disaster and the two brigades fighting as two brigade groups scattered widely from each other withdrew from Norway in may 1940. |
British soldiers of the 4th Lincolnshire Regiment at Skage after marching 90 km (56 mi) across the mountains to escape being cut off, April 1940. A Norwegian soldier is seen examining one of their rifles (photo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Campaign)
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May 1940
Withdrawel of the 49th infantry division from Norway.
The 148th suffering 1400 casualties did not rejoin the division thus leaving the division with only the 146th and the 147th infantry brigades.
They left and departed for iceland.
- 146th arriving in Iceland on 8th of may.
- 147th arriving in Iceland on the 17th of may.
The 148th suffering 1400 casualties did not rejoin the division thus leaving the division with only the 146th and the 147th infantry brigades.
They left and departed for iceland.
- 146th arriving in Iceland on 8th of may.
- 147th arriving in Iceland on the 17th of may.
June 1940
10th of june, The division is now under Major General Henry Curtis.
Curtis had commanded the sister formation 46th infantry division during the battle of France in the BEF and the subsequent retreat to Dunkirk were it was evacuated to England with heavy casualties.
- The divisional HQ arriving in Iceland on 23 june, were it got redesignated as HQ Alabaster Force.
Curtis had commanded the sister formation 46th infantry division during the battle of France in the BEF and the subsequent retreat to Dunkirk were it was evacuated to England with heavy casualties.
- The divisional HQ arriving in Iceland on 23 june, were it got redesignated as HQ Alabaster Force.
New divisional Emblem.
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Two brigades stationed in Iceland. This is were the division adopted the new divisional emblem. A polar bear standing on an ice floe.
The idea came from the divisional commander; Major General Evelyn Barker. Also stationed in Iceland from late october 1940 was the 70th independent Infantry Brigade. |
1st Pattern 49th infantry division patch.
Item is in my own collection.
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D-day 1945.
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Just after d-day the Division moved into France as part of the XXX Corps.
This is were they got referred to as "the polar bear Butchers" by the Nazi propaganda broadcaster Lord Haw-Haw. |
Photo taken from: http://www.warrelics.eu
Christmas card with a cartoon of how the division was named by William Joyce, also known as Lord Haw Haw.
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