Memorial

The Polar Bear - the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division

Polar Bear

Source: Copyright Judith Parry

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Current Location

National Memorial Arboretum, Croxall Road, Alrewas, Lichfield, Staffordshire, DE13 7AR, England

OS Grid Reference

SK 18241 14473

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Memorial Details

Type of Memorial: Sculptured / Cast figure
WMR Reference Number: 68576
Description: This Memorial has the distinction of being the first to be unveiled at the National Memorial Arboretum. Carved yellow hardwood figure of a roaring polar bear, the Division's WW2 badge, adopted after service in Norway and Iceland. It is set on a Portland stone plinth inlaid with the names of the countries in which the Division served, standing on a drum-shaped brick base, with blue bricks around the drum head, and orange bricks for the main structure, apart from a line of red bricks which runs round the centre. Above this line is inlaid a set of nine glazed panels, six of which carry the badges, carved in lime wood, of the Regiments composing the Division and of towns, liberated or defended by the Division, which contributed to the Memorial, and three of which carry the Memorial's inscriptions, thus: A history of the Division; details of the unveiling, the Dedication, and information about the Memorial; and two poems by Jodie Johnson, written when she was 9 and 11, at school in Ashton-in-Makerfield, copies of which were sold to raise money for the Arboretum and the Memorial. Inside the bear itself is a capsule carrying details of those who died serving with the Division, along with personal mementoes. Versions of the Polar Bear statue have been erected at towns liberated by the 49th Division in WW2.
Inscription: Panel 1: The 49th West Riding/ Infantry Division/ (History of the Division)/ This Monument is created as a tribute to all those who served in the/ 49th (west Riding) Division 1939 - 1946.

Commemoration

War: Second World War (1939-1945)
Additional Information: The memorial is commemorating the fallen soldiers of the 49th Infantry West Riding Division, who had been stationed and snowed in in Iceland during WW2.

History

Maker(s): MR PETER BENSON, Wood Carver
Sponsor Type: private, other
Sponsored By: Sale of poems by Jodie Johnson had raised £10,500 by the date of the unveiling.
Additional Cost/Sponsorship Information: In order to gain additional funds for the memorial cards with two poems by Jodie Johnson had been distributed and are still sold in the visitor centre in order to cover maintenance costs. Confirmed in January 2023 that the poems are contained within a booklet about the Polar Bear Memorial which is on sale at the Arboretum.

War MemorialsRegister

The Polar Bear - the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division

Current Location

OS Grid Reference

Names listed on this memorial

Contribute to the War Memorials Register

Memorial Details

Commemoration

History

The Polar Bear - the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division

Current Location

OS Grid Reference

Names listed on this memorial

Contribute to the War Memorials Register

Memorial Details

Commemoration

History

Ceremonies

Conservation

Components

Further Information