49th (West Riding) Infantry Division was often called the "Polar Bears." This nickname was given to the division because of the emblems they wore and their tenacity in combat.

Origin of the name "Polar Bears":

• The nickname "Polar Bears" was given to the 49th Division during their involvement in the Northern Campaign in Northern Europe. The division fought in cold and harsh conditions, especially in the northern areas of Europe, such as the northern Netherlands and northern Germany.
  
  The emblems of the Polar Bears were an image of a bear, presented as a symbol of the strength and endurance of the division, which continued to fight through difficult conditions. It became a synonym for the courage and determination the soldiers of the division showed during their battle

• .Use of the nickname:
  The name became popular among the troops themselves and was used as a form of pride, but it was also often used in military reports and documentation.

• It is a name that often appears in the memoirs and stories of veterans of the 49th Division.