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.