Januari 1944
The division moved to East Anglia.
Februari 1944
2 februari the division got transferred from Lieutenant General Crocker's I Corps to XXX Corps under Lieutenant General Bucknall and continued training for the invasion.
June 1944
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13th June, the division lands in Normandy as part of operation Overlord.
A little to late to take part in the battle of Villers-Bocage. 16th june, 6th battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment of the 147th Brigade suffered 230 casualties in the two day battle to capture Le Parc the Boislande. The position was eventually taken by the 7th battalion Duke of Weliington's Regiment. 25th june, Operation Martlet (first phase of Operation Epsom, British attempt to capture Caen.) The division's first major action as a division. The division's role was to protect the right flank of VIII Corps by capturing the Rauray Ridge. There first objective, the town of Fontenay went well and was captured by the end of the first day. Rauray itself was more difficult although after heavy fighting it was captured on the 27th of june. the following days the 1st tyneside scottish had to hold the town against very fierce counterattacks. It was this period of fierce fighting that the Nazi propaganda broadcaster William Joyce also known as Lord Haw Haw referred to the division as "the Polar Bear Butchers" |
Christmas card with a cartoon of how the division was named by William Joyce, also known as Lord Haw Haw.
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September 1944
In late September 1944 the division was awarded its first and only Victoria Cross (VC) of the Second World War, belonging to Corporal John Harper of the Hallamshire, York and Lancaster Regiment.
October 1944
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30th of october, liberation of Roosendaal
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November 1944
Major General Barker receives promotion to Lieutenant General and leaves the division.
The new General Officer Command will be General Gordon Macmillan.
Barker later wrote that "My fortune was to command the Polar Bears whose achievements were made possible by its great efficiency at all levels, its high morale and the marvellous team work..... It was a splendid fighting machine".
The division's next few months would consist mainly of small-scale skirmishing, including numerous patrols trying to dominate no-man's land and continuing to garrison "The Island" (part of land between Nijmegen and Arnhem).
The new General Officer Command will be General Gordon Macmillan.
Barker later wrote that "My fortune was to command the Polar Bears whose achievements were made possible by its great efficiency at all levels, its high morale and the marvellous team work..... It was a splendid fighting machine".
The division's next few months would consist mainly of small-scale skirmishing, including numerous patrols trying to dominate no-man's land and continuing to garrison "The Island" (part of land between Nijmegen and Arnhem).
