80th Anniversary: Liberation of Roosendaal (Songs that Won the War)

The Brentwood Imperial Youth Band recently travelled to Roosendaal in the Netherlands for the commoration of the 80th anniversary of the liberation by the Polar Bears - 49th West Riding Division - on 30th October 1944. The main commemoration took place at the Polar Bear Memorial on the Quay (Kade) which is where the allied forces entered the Town but we also took part in other events nearby.
Harry Conn and The 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment, landed on Gold Beach, east of Le Hamel, on D-Day, 6 June 1944. Harry’s eventual task was to drive ahead, with a small group of men, of the main column to discover if and what resistance the main column would be met with.
Living local Harry became a strong advocate of the band and he realised that as the sands of time flowed away, and with the passing of that incredible generation so could quite likely, in the UK at least, the Polar Bear name, it was his invitation for the band to become associate members of his association that is the reason we wear the Polar Bear flash on our left shoulder.
We could not be more proud than to wear the Polar Bear, the eventual divisional insignia of the 2nd Essex, 49th West Riding Division and to have been in Roosendaal for their 80th Liberation Anniversary, our little badge of the Polar Bear is a constant reminder of Service, Sacrifice & Courage.
Keeping the Old Bear Alive!