Fusilier Kenneth J. West - Sad News

Gunta and I were very saddened to receive a call from Steve West last night to say that his Dad, Ken West died last Saturday. Ken served in the same Regiment as my Grandfather (11th Royal Scots Fusiliers across North West Europe in 1944-1945). When I wrote my book Ken was so generous with his time and excellent memories of those dark times. In the book I described him as my source of information and inspiration. The two of us feel truly honored to have spent some hours in this man's company listening to his stories that were always so well told.

We met on three occasions, but the most memorable was the first when, sporting his 'bling' blazer with the Legion D'Honneur topping his other campaign medals, as we parted he kissed Gunta and said 'You thought you were coming here to meet an old soldier but now you have kissed a French Knight!'.

Ken fought with the RSF in Normandy, receiving wounds in Fontenay from a phosphorus shell. He was an active member of the Normandy Veterans Association until is dissolution. With this in mind, when Owen and I were last in Normandy I bought a couple of bottles of Calvados, one of which I gave to Ken with a copy of my book. This evening we raised a glass of the Normandy spirit from our own bottle to Ken West..... Fusilier and friend!

Our thoughts are with Ken's family and many friends.

The photograph shows Ken on leave in Brussels in February 1945.

Lieutenant Colonel Willian Dewhurst Douglas Writes

Now presentations to royalty are all well and good and some achievement, even if I say so myself, but last week I received some feedback that was much more important for me.

When I re-started this project in early 2014, in researching the activities of the 11th Royal Scots Fusiliers in North West Europe, I stumbled upon an Imperial War Museum audio interview with one of their officers. This detailed two hour interview served as a first hand road map of the progress and achievements of the Battalion. The interviewee was William Dewhurst Douglas.

The interview can be found here:

http://www.iwm.org.uk_www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80011010

Lieutenant Douglas, as he was at the time, was at some stage in Holland my Grandfathers Commanding Officer. He was on the highly audacious, not to mention highly decorated, raid over the River Waal that took 'D' Company of the 11th RSF behind enemy lines in order to 'create mayhem and bring back prisoners'. Indeed William Douglas was awarded the Military Cross for this action.

Later and quite by chance, an enquiry relating to the 11th RSF brought a response from an ex-pupil of William Douglas, with whom I enjoyed a very fruitful email exchange which included clarifications on my then understanding from said officer.

Upon publication of the book I sent copies to both men, with letters of thanks. Needless to say, I was thrilled for receive a very complementary, hand written letter from Lieutenant Colonel Douglas himself.

To get this close to my Grandfather's personal military history, 22 years after he died and 72 years after the events in Holland is for me amazing and completely unexpected.

From Lt Col W.D. Douglas MC

5^th July 2017.

Dear Adrian,

Many thanks for your letter of 10^th June and your book about your Grandfather. Both only reached me yesterday as I had been away from home.

I have speed read your book today and congratulate you on your tribute to your Grandfather. He must be proud of you and grateful for your insight into his time in the Army.

I was only too pleased to be able to help you – particularly through Charlie Arrand (one of my star History pupils).

Your Chapter 1 (your Grandfather’s funeral) I rate brought tears to your eyes. It certainly caused a brief few tears to me as the memories came back.

Your account of the battle for NOYERS brought back a memory. Some days before I had done a recce patrol from south of Fontenay-le-Pesnel (page 146) to check German positions on the long slope leading down to Noyers station. I recall reporting that the area was full of German positions!

I think that you are correct in placing your Grandfather in 16 Pl ’D’ Coy because of his knowledge and concern for Sgt. Little.

What a good idea to send profits from the book to the Associations for the newly created museum and the 49^th Newsletter.

I never had the opportunity to be much associated with the 49^th Div. after the war. In July ’45, I was on a troop-ship bound for the Far-East when Japan surrendered. I spent four years in Rhodesia with the African Rifles, then Staff College, the Far-east (Malaya-Korea). In fact very rarely in the UK, with my loyalties to the 2^nd Div., 3^rd Div., and 1^st Guards Brigade.

Once again, my congratulations on your book and many thanks for my copy.

All Good Wishes.

William Douglas.

William Douglas, is a hale and hearty 96 year old, who is in late stage preparations to remarry. Such men were cut from a different cloth entirely !!

Presentation at Hill 112 Normandy 9th July 2017

Last weekend marked the 73rd anniversary of the battle to take Hill 112 to the South East of Caen. This modest area of high ground was viciously fought over as to command it meant control of the strategically vital surrounding area. Indeed Rommel described Hill 112 as the most important hill in Normandy. The task to take it was given to the men of the 43rd Wessex Division in an action code named 'Operation Jupiter' that was launched on the 9th/10th July 1944.

As with many significant sites across Battlefield Normandy, Hill 112 hosts many memorials, notably one to the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division.

43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division

Hill 112

Also of note is the Churchill tank at the site, a memorial to the many tank men who lost their lives in the actions.

Two weeks ago I met up with Dennis Dimond, Secretary of the 49th (West Riding) Division Association to pass over a number of copies of the book. He informed me that for one copy he had some very specific plans. He intended to travel to the location of Hill 112 to participate in the anniversary commemoration and to take the opportunity to make a donation from the Polar Bear Association funds to his counterpart in the Hill 112 Association for the maintenance of the Churchill tank pictured above.

It so happened that Prince Edward (the Queen's youngest son) would also be in attendance. Edward has close associations through his position as the Earl of Wessex. Dennis's plan was to make a presentation of 'A Pithead Polar Bear' to Prince Edward or at the very least pass a copy on to one of his aides.

In the event he did a very good job and further more was able document the presentation on camera. Many thanks to Dennis and the other Polar Bear representatives who were in attendance last weekend.

Dennis Dimond greets HRH Prince Edward

Now down to business....

And up, up and away, with a aide clutching said the book.

So there you have it. That this book may be currently sitting on a royal bookshelf appeals to my sense of humour. I think that my Grandfather would be amused.

A Veteran of the 5th South Staffordshire Regiment Responds

Bert Bamford

5th South Staffordshire Regiment.

Today I was the very happy recipient of a personal letter from one of the veterans who kindly took the time to share his wartime experiences with me during the preparation of 'A Pithead Polar Bear'. Herbert (or Bert) Bamford was, like my Grandfather, a soldier of the 5th South Staffordshire Regiment within the 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division. Prior to sailing to France in mid June 1944 he trained on the North East Coast, in Northern Ireland and Kent. Once in France he shared the experience of battle to the north of Caen, in Noyers Bocage and on the high ground overlooking the River Orne before the Division was disbanded in August 1944 to supply other regiments with much needed reinforcements.

6th July 2017

Dear Adrian,

Many thanks for the book, I have read a few pages and look forward to reading the rest. I am glad you were able to find the monument at the Chateau Galmanche. Also you were able to still see the signs of the battle. 

It must have taken a lot of work and research to complete your book. I also enjoyed being able to talk and reminisce about those times as my memory is getting a little hazy these days, a sign of age I suppose. 

Again, many thanks for the book.

Yours,

Bert.

Bert (on the left) with a fellow veteran at the St Contest Memorial to the actions of the 59th (Staffordshire) Division on the area on the 8th and 9th July 1944.

Feedback for 'A Pithead Polar Bear'

'Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on writing the book. I am very pleased for you and I was delighted to read it. It is a great achievement and I'm sure that your grandfather would be very proud of you and that the rest of your family are incredibly proud of you. I think it is a great and very personal book, a real act of affection, and a proper memorial to your grandfather, and also those who served alongside him in both battalions, just ordinary men wrenched from ordinary lives doing their best, no doubt despite being rightly terrified, in extraordinary circumstances.

I am still lost in awe of the sheer magnitude of the task which faced this extraordinary citizen army, all that it took to plan and the sustain the effort through all the years of the war, and the commitment which ultimately saw them victorious.

I have really enjoyed the book, and found a number of things in it relating to 11 RSF which I had not come across before, which was a real delight. Having devoured it first time round, I’ll probably read it again over the Summer and take a little more time to absorb it'.

Charlie Arrand (ex-pupil of Colonel William Douglas 11th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers).

'The book has a arrived and I was quite taken aback. I was expecting a slim xeroxed pamphlet wonkily stapled. Instead this is massive volume of your not inconsiderable talent in writing great prose. It must have taken you ages? Really really impressed Mr Andrews - I look forward to your next volume which I hope will see a wider audience and produced by a mainstream publishing house. You are a talent for writing - go for it!'

John Day.


'The book is excellent. I am about half way through already!'

Dennis Dimond (Secretary of The 49th (West Riding) Division Association.

'Enjoying the book immensely, I've learnt a lot of things about the 59th (Staffordshire) Division that I never knew'.

Ken West (WWII veteran, 11th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers).

Book Update

Good evening all! I just wanted to say a big thank you to all those who have purchased a copy of my book 'A Pithead Polar Bear' to date. I am really pleased with the way that the sales are going. So far, 108 books of the 150 print run are accounted for. It is quite something for me to think that this humble family history is to be found on the bookshelves of friends and colleagues in the UK, France, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, America, Canada and Australia. Thank you one and all!

Adrian x.

Tribute to Corporal Peter W. Pimlott 7th South South Staffordshire Regiment

As ‘A Pithead Polar Bear’ was in its final stages of preparation, I received an email requesting some assistance in providing information about the South Staffordshire Regiments in Normandy. The email came from Paul Simpson MBE, a retired warrant officer, who is researching the service of his great uncle, Corporal Peter W. Pimlott of the 7^th South Staffords. As this enquiry neatly coincided with a planned return to Normandy I said that if at all possible I would visit Corporal Pimlott’s plot in the Banneville-la-Campagne cemetery and lay a Royal British Legion cross.

Corporal Pimlott was killed in action with the 7^th South Staffordshire Regiment on 7^th August 1944 in the Grimbosq bridgehead established in order to allow the 59^th (Staffordshire) Division to cross the River Orne. He survived just 41 days in Normandy.

Yesterday I received an email from Paul with a photograph of his great uncle’s mounted medals.

Corporal P.W. Pimlott

7th South Staffordshire Regiment

Killed in Action on 7th August 1944.

A Pithead Polar Bear is Now Available

Update on Publication Date

Hi,

I decided to postpone the publication date by one week in order to be in a position to include some additional photographs and information resulting from my most recent visit to Normandy in mid-May. I think that the poignancy and relevance of this additional information justifies this additional delay many times over.

I have been informed by the publisher that the books should be with me by 9th June at which point I can start sending them out.

As I have stated on the flyer and elsewhere, the book proceeds will be split between projects relevant to both the 59th (Staffordshire) Division and the 49th (West Riding) Division. Given the fact that my Grandfather transferred to the 11th RSF after the conclusion of the Battle of Normandy, my focus in this area has always been on the 59th Division. This fact took me back to Thury Harcourt, a significant Norman town on the west bank of the Orne that was liberated by the men of the 59th Division in August 1944.

Previously I had been here oblivious that I was in extremely close proximity to a recently opened permanent exhibition to the town's liberators.

The Old Fire Station, located within 10 meters of the main 59th Division memorial now houses the start of a permanent tribute to the men who fell (and indeed those that survived) in the Division's ultimately successful efforts to liberate the town.

It was on an early Friday morning the my travelling companion, Owen, and I met up with a lovely lady by the name of Micheline Guillerm, the  'French Connection' in terms of the 59th (Staffordshire) Division, a.k.a. 'The Friends of Thury Harcourt'. Micheline was a young witness to the liberation and the recollections of the events have stayed with her in the intervening years.

We discussed the meaning of the museum and plans for possible expansion into additional rooms of the old station. I told her of my proposal to make a donation to the project and at this she welled up. I hope that Micheline is the first and last French lady I make cry!

Adrian and Micheline Guillerm

Thury Harcourt May 2017.

Publication in May

The waiting is nearly over. I have taken the plunge and sent ‘A Pithead Polar Bear’ off to the publishers so I can say with certainty that it will be available this month.

Details of how and where to get the book will follow in the next few days.

Many thanks,

Adrian.

A Pithead Polar Bear - Contact Email Address

In order to address any enquiries about the book I have set up a dedicated email address. Please feel free to direct any questions  that you have to:

apitheadpolarbear@gmail.com

Book Foreword by Kenneth J. West

I am honoured, not to say more than a little chuffed that when I asked Ken West if he would be so kind as to write a few words to serve as a foreword to the book, he agreed without hesitation.

Ken's book 'An' It's Called A Tam O'Shanter' was one of the first relevant books I read about the everyday existence of infantry soldiers in North West Europe in 1944-1945, soldiers just like my Grandfather. Far from being a typical stuffy book full of strategic discussion and dry talk of Army and Corps campaign plans, Ken tells how it was from the perspective of a slit trench! There are tales of Regimental Sergeant Majors head down in latrines and novel uses for a British Army issue Bayonet! At the same time, the evident humour is tempered with moments of reflection and remembrance that were all a part and parcel of the unpredictable life of an infantryman in the field.

Some weeks after reading 'Tan O'Shanter' I joined the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division Association (also known as The Polar Bear Association). My joining closely coincided with the publication of the June 2014 issue of their periodical, 'The Polar Bear News' from which I learned that not only was Ken still with us but he was still gallivanting across Holland with the Association.

To cut a long story short I wrote to Ken, we met and have maintained quite regular contact since. It is Ken, through his willingness to discuss his time with the 11th R.S.F. in Europe in writing and conversation, not to mention his encouraging words concerning the preparation of this book, that has meant that this book will finally make it to publication.

For these reasons having Ken, a veteran of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, who fought in the same towns and villages as my Grandfather, endorse my efforts is really very special for me.

Thanks Ken, you are a nonagenarian mine of information and inspiration!

Adrian and Ken

Leicester October 2014

Artwork for the book

Well here's my first attempt at putting a cover together for 'A Pithead Polar Bear'. I opted for a collage of original documentation. The following items are featured.

• Early photograph as a new recruit taken some time in the first half of 1940 when he was with the North Staffordshire Regiment
• The 'pithead' insignia of the 59th (Staffordshire) Division
• The 'polar bear' insignia of the 49th (West Riding) Division
• Jim Heath's sign up papers from January 1940
• His entry pass into Bergen-Belsen camp from July 1945
• His certificate of release to the Army Reserve dated 24th December 1945
• 'The Kings Badge', a silver lapel badge awarded to soldiers disabled during service
• Medal ribbons (clockwise from top right):

The War Medal

1939-1945 Star

The Defence Medal

The France And Germany Star