Fontenay-le-Pesnel

Hello,

Following the restoration of a Jeep, I became interested in the markings of World War II vehicles used by British regiments, as I live in Fontenay-le-Pesnel, a village liberated during Operation Martlet in late June 1944.

That's where I ran into a problem. All the sources I found were inconsistent.

I chose the markings of the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division "Polar Bears" for my vehicle, because there's a monument in their honor in Fontenay, and also those of the 7th Battalion, Duck of Wellington Regiment (7DWR), which played a significant role in the liberation of Fontenay.

But:

According to the websites L’infanterie britannique – Souchman's Home – Tout ce que vous avez voulu savoir sur la Jeep sans avoir osé le demander and Infantry and Mountain Division Vehicle Markings, as well as the book "Le Tommy de la libération De la Normandie à la Baltique" by Jean Bouchery, published by Histoire et Collections, the marking is a "69" on a brown background.

According to the book "Fontenay-Rauray-Autopsie d’une bataille" by Baptiste Flotte and Frédéric Deprun, published by Heimdal, the marking is a "62" on a green background, and the "69" on a brown background is that of the 11th Durham Light Infantry (11 DLI).

According to the book "FONTENAY-RAURAY - THE BEAR AND FOX, READY FOR THE FRAY" by Frederick JEANNE, published by Marans, the marking would also be a "61" on a green background, but this time the "69" on a brown background would be the 1st Tyneside Scottish Battalion (Tyneside).

Another thing I have questions about is the insignia of the 7th Battalion Duck of Wellington Regiment. On the graves and on the monument in Fontenay, the insignia bears the inscription "The DUKE OF WELLINTONS RGT", while the clothing insignia have the inscription "West Riding".

For all these questions, I would like to know if you can help me understand and where to find reliable information on these subjects. Sincerely,

Dimitri FLEURY

 

To put it shortly, Frederick JEANNE is correct, the others are wrong:
7 DWR = 62 over Green
1 TYNE SCOT = 69 over Brown
68 over Brown is 11 DLI

The errors come from the misconception that 70 Inf Bde was the senior brigade in 49 Div, based on its number, whereas it actually was the junior brigade, replacing as it did the previous junior brigade, i.e. 148 Bde.

For a rather complete OOB of 49 Div at the time of FONTENAY-LE-PESNEL see:
49th Division "Polar Bear" - Mobilization Unit Serial Numbers

You may even want to add the MSN for 7 DWR (15475) on your Jeep...

 

There are a few mistakes in this -

https://www.fireandfury.com/britinfo/divmarkings.pdf

But it does summarise why some things were the way they were.

In the tank regiments section - (one particular error *)



The standard sequence for a four-squadron regiment is:
HQ Squadron: Diamond (hollow shape)
A Squadron: Triangle (hollow shape) *
B Squadron: Square (hollow shape) *
C Squadron: Circle (hollow shape)

* So these need to be swapped around.

I haven't really picked over the "Infantry Divisions" section - though when you glance over it I think it's easy to see how such errors and difficulties in understanding it all now can creep in.

 

Thanks you for your very intersting responce.

 

I would very much like to read your Grandma's June 1944 diary if you can spare a copy.
My was an officer who served during the battle of Fontenay and on to Tessel Wood. Where he was wounded with a snipers bullet in his spine that paralysed him from the waist down. He died in 1954.

Thank you kindly

Bill Ashby
son of Major W. Ashby, Hallamshire Battalion

 

The battalion was part of The Duke of Wellington's Regiment but also also a unit within the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division.

Regards

Tom