The purpose of this blog site is to provide updates on the publication of the book that I have been involved in writing since January 2014. The book now entitled 'A Pithead Polar Bear From Brighton to Belsen 1940 to 1946' is an attempt to understand what my late Grandfather, L/Cpl James Kitchener Heath did during the Second World War.

'A Pithead Polar Bear' is the culmination of another internet blog project that I started, entitled 'A Fragmented Military History', the name being an acknowledgement of the limited information that I had to go on and just how much there was to learn. The original site can be accessed from this site and in many ways can be thought of as being complementary to the published book.

James, or Jim, Heath was an ordinary citizen soldier signed up for the duration of the war. His experiences over the six years of the conflict are similar to those of many thousands of infantry men whilst at the same time unique to him.

My sincere hope for this book is that it may in some part inspire like minded people to take up the challenge to explore a similar history for one of their own relatives. My message is that it can be done even seventy plus years after the events described. It is also hugely rewarding.

Somewhere down the line I wrote words to the following effect, 'in my dealings with our veterans it has become clear that it is not our thanks they seek for what they did but our understanding'. That for me is justification enough for such an undertaking as this.



Saturday, September 1, 2018

Joe Hoadley 49th (West Riding) Division Recce Regiment RIP


Last week it was with sadness that I was informed of the passing of Joe Hoadley of the 49th (West Riding) Division Recce Regiment. Joe was one of the first British soldiers to enter the town of Turnhout in Belgium on 24th September 1944. At the time my Grandfather with 'D' Company of the 11th Royal Scots Fusiliers was a little way over the Antwerp-Turnhout canal waiting to enter the town. The men of the 49th (West Riding) Division, The Polar Bears, are commemorated as liberators of the town each September. Joe was a regular attendee of the service held in the CWGC section of the Kwakkelstraat Communal Cemetery. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to meet and talk with Joe as for the last couple of years when I have attended, poor health prevented him from travelling. I know that within the Polar Bear Association community the man will be greatly missed.

Good on you Joe!


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