Difference between revisions of "70th Infantry Brigade War Diary October 1939"

Revision as of 10:52, 24 August 2011

2nd October 1939 - 00:01 hours

The 23rd Division became a separate formation under the command of Maj Gen W N Herbert C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.

In a "Special Order of the Day" Major General Herbert wrote:-

"Today I have the honour to assume Command of the 23rd (Northumbrian) Division which from now onwards becomes a separate formation. Today we break away from our Comrades of the 50th Division to whose help we owe so much.

We shall follow the activities of the 50th Division with pride and interest. We start today with traditions passed on to us, not only by our parent Division, the 50th, but also by the old 23rd Division whose inspiring record in the War of 1914-1918 sets before us so high a standard.

It must be our constant ambition during the days which lie ahead to fit ourselves to be worthy of those who have gone before. Every Officer and Man must strive to the end that the 23rd (Northumbrian) Division shall be the first of the new Divisions to be ready to take the field. All other considerations must be subordinate to that end.

I know that I can rely on the courage, discipline, loyalty and whole-hearted co-operation of all ranks."

4th October 1939

A Route March was undertaken by 12th Battalion to TEAMS through CHESTER-LE-STREET. Brigadier Kirkup took the salute.

5th October 1939

A Territorial Army "comb-out" of personnel essential for the maintenance of production in Civil Trades was ordered in a letter from 50th Division dated on this day.

9th October 1939

A second Section Commanders' course was opened.

14th October 1939

The "comb-out" process was completed with the result that the losses in manpower were as follows:-

10th Battalion 35 Other Ranks.

11th Battalion 26 Other Ranks.

12th Battalion 9 Other Ranks.

A change in the level of subsistence allowances from three shillings per day to 2 shillings and 7 pence plus six pence M.S. (messing supplement?) was made.

16th October 1939

"A" Company of the 10th Battalion took over Civil Defence duties at DARLINGTON and relieved a Company from the 6th Battalion, who were part of 151st Brigade and needed to be relieved of duties in the UK, so that they could proceed to France in due course.

Two Companies of the 12th Battalion similarly relieved two Companies of 9th Battalion at SOUTH SHIELDS and SUNDERLAND.

17th October 1939

An intake of Militia (Army Class) recruits numbering approximately 100 men into each Battalion were transferred to partly replace the men lost by; combing-out personnel from essential trades, transferring the unfit, and transferring the "immatures" - that is those still regarded as under-age for overseas service (then, nineteen years old was regarded as the minimum age for embarkation for overseas).

19th October 1939

The 23rd Division took over responsibility for the military contribution to Civil Defence for Northumbria.

70th Brigade was required to cover the whole of Durham County (from the South bank of the Tyne to the North bank of the Tees), though two Companies of 6th Battalion The Green Howards were placed at the disposal of the Brigade for Civil Defence Duties only in HARTLEPOOL and STOCKTON-ON-TEES between 12:00 hours on 19th October until 13:30 hours on the 21st October.

10th Battalion became the Group Reserve, relieving the 6th Battalion at 12:00 hours, but remaining at its station in Spennymoor for the time being. The Group Reserve transport vehicles, stationed then with 151st Brigade, were to be made available for Civil Defence Duties but would not be moved to Bishop Auckland until 23rd October.

Similarly the 11th Battalion became the Area Reserve, relieving the 8th Battalion, but remaining in its Chester-le-Street location.

Battalion Commanders were instructed to make themselves known to the Chiefs of the Civil Police in each locality. All moves and reliefs were to be made known to 70th Brigade HQ.

22nd October 1939

The 10th Battalion moved its HQ from SPENNYMOOR to BISHOP AUCKLAND taking over the accommodation vacated by the 6th Battalion, which had moved South, on its way to the B.E.F.

The 11th Bn took over 8th Battalion's Drill Halls in BIRTLEY, STANLEY, HOUGHTON-LE-SPRING and CHESTER-LE-STREET, as 8th Battalion also moved South.

23rd October 1939

The 41st (Durham) Group National Defence Corps established a new HQ at LOW FELL, as the accommodation at Mains House was proving cramped for both them and 70th Brigade's staff.

During the night of 22nd/23rd September the billet at LAMBTON CASTLE Stables – occupied at that time by HQ Company of the 11th Battalion – was invaded by hundreds of rats. As a result the Company was transferred to the DURHAM CITY Drill Hall vacated by 8th Battalion, which had moved south.

The Third Section Commanders course opened.

24th October 1939

Divisional Commander visited Brigade HQ.

25th October 1939

In Brigade Orders of this date item 92 listed a series of postings of Officers from the DLI Infantry Training Centre to the three Battalions as follows:-

 10th Battalion

Captain Hall

Captain McCoy

2/Lt Chamberlain

2/Lt Morant

 11th Battalion

Major Sebag-Montefiore

Lt Percival Maxwell

Lt Adams

2/Lt Beaumont

2/Lt Wilkinson

 12th Battalion

Captain Barrington

Captain Ricketts

It was noted that Major Sebag-Montefiore and Captain Ricketts would both be based at Brigade HQ, working on special programmes of training.

29th October 1939

At 04:00 hours a telephoned Order was received from 23rd Division confining all troops to barracks and billets.

the 10th Battalion was ordered to provide standby platoons from DARLINGTON for possible traffic control at CROFT, NORTHALLERTON and THIRSK – one platoon per point.

At the Empire Theatre, Gateshead the Proprietors organised a free concert for 700 men of the Brigade. This was given in the evening by Frank E Franks and his Variety Company.

The following images of the entertainer and his wife are included by courtesy of Allyson Proudfoot - whose help is gratefully acknowledged.

left center

30th October 1939

The Confinement Order keeping troops in barracks and billets ceased (no information was given as to why the Order had been given in the first instance - perhaps for the purpose of exercising such arrangements?).

A Signal Section set up at Brigade.

31st October 1939

Reinforcements were supplied as follows:-

From the 10th Battalion to the 6th Battalion – 59 Other Ranks.

From the 11th Battalion to the 8th Battalion – 143 Other Ranks.

From the 12th Battalion to the 9th Battalion – 73 Other Ranks.

(In many respects this type of siphoning off of men - often the better trained - to the First-Line Battalions was reminiscent of the Service Battalion role in Infantry Regiments in the First World War. Arguably, while one can understand the importance of the more experienced and trained troops being made available to those units expected to be in action first, one of the effects was likely to have been a slowing down of the process by which the second-line Battalions reached fully trained status).

The affiliation of the 12th Battalion to the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) was proceeding. This Battalion wore the symbols of The Black Watch only and the affiliation was aimed at continuing the tradition of the Tyneside Scottish Battalions which had been raised during the First World War.

Regarding Civil Defence, liaison with the civil authorities on this important issue was to be provided by Capt Sir Thomas Bradford (one of the four "Fighting Bradford" brothers of World War One) of Aden Cottage, Durham.

To contact the author by e-mail with any queries, or to send information - click here.