Difference between revisions of "507th Field Company, Royal Engineers War Diary November 1939"

Revision as of 14:37, 23 May 2015

1 November 1939 – Sunderland

08:00 hours. Works and Training Programme. Normal.

09:15 hours. Ration lorry left for Fenham to draw rations.

09:30 hours. Mr Miller and L/Sgt Howard and L/Cpl Scott to Bishop Auckland.

09:45 hours. Mr Edgar and NCO and men for Seaburn Camp.

NCOs and men to Chester-le-Street re Passive Air Defence work for 70th Brigade HQ DLI and proceeded to 23rd Division HQ Darlington for Passive Air Defence work.

10:30 hours. Major K McK Cameron for to meet Colonel Kennedy to proceed to 70th Brigade HQ DLI.

13:00 hours. Ration lorry returned.

14:10 hours. 507 Field Company Rugby team left to play Technical College, Sunderland. We won by 16 points to 0.

17:30 hours. Mr Miller returned.

17:40 hours. Mr Edgar returned from Seaburn Camp.

18:15 hours. NCOs and men returned from Chester-le-Street and Darlington.

22:30 hours. Major Cameron returned from 23rd Division Commander Royal Engineers HQ.

22:35 hours. Message from 23rd Division HQ Darlington by Special Despatch Rider.

23:00 hours. Lights Out.

2 November 1939 – Sunderland

08:30 hours. 2 Sappers left for Chester Road Schools on works.

10:00 hours. 2/Lt Miller with L/Sgt Howard and 12 Sappers left for Bishop Auckland on works for DLI.

10:00 hours. L/Sgt Mimmack and 9 Sappers left for work at Chester-le-Street.

11:35 hours. 2 Sappers returned from Chester Road Schools.

14:25 hours. 2 Sappers left for Alexandra Road.

15:00 hours. 2 Sappers returned from Alexandra Road.

17:30 hours. 2/Lt Miller and Party returned from Bishop Auckland.

18:00 hours. L/Sgt Mimmack and Party returned from Chester-le-Street.

23:00 hours. Lights Out.

3 November 1939 – Sunderland

09:15 hours. 2/Lt Miller with L/Sgt Howard and 14 Sappers left for Bishop Auckland.

09:30 hours. 2/Lt Edgar with L/Sgt Mimmack and 17 Sappers left for Chester-le-Street and Stanley.

17:00 hours. 2/Lt Miller and Party returned.

18:30 hours. 2/Lt Edgar and Party returned.

23:00 hours. Lights Out.

4 November 1939 – Sunderland

08:00 hours. L/Sgt Mimmack and 1 Sapper left for Chester-le-Street.

09:15 hours. L/Cpl Little and 14 Sappers left for Bishop Auckland.

09:30 hours. L/Sgt Huskisson and 16 Sappers left for works at Houghton and Stanley.

10:00 hours. L/Sgt Mimmack and 1 Sapper returned to HQ.

14:00 hours. L/Sgt Howard and 2 Sappers left for Darlington.

17:00 hours. L/Sgt Huskisson and Party returned from works.

17:30 hours. L/Cpl Little and Party returned from Bishop Auckland.

18:45 hours. L/Sgt Huskisson and Party returned from Darlington.

23:00 hours. Lights Out.

5 November 1939 – Sunderland

08:00 hours. L/Sgt Howard and 3 Sappers left for Middleton Tyas.

09:45 hours. Company Parade.

10:00 hours. Service held in Drill Hall.

R.Cs. paraded under CSM Urwin for Mass at St Jacob’s Church.

18:45 hours. L/Sgt Howard and Party returned.

23:00 hours. Lights Out.

6 November 1939 – Sunderland

08:30 hours. Normal Training Programme.

L/Sgts Howard and Mimmack and 6 Sappers left for Chester-le-Street and Middleton Tyas.

09:00 hours. 2/Lt Edgar and 13 Sappers left for West Stanley and Houghton.

09:30 hours. 2/Lt Miller with Party left for Chester Road and Bishop Auckland.

2/Lt Blench left for Scotch Corner Hotel for Course in Military Law.

Bomb Destruction Party (L/Cpl Ellison, Sapper Wallace and Driver i/c Beadnell) left for Hull.

17:30 hours. 2/Lt Edgar and Party returned.

18:00 hours. L/Sgts Howard and Mimmack and Parties returned.

2/Lt Miller returned with Party.

23:00 hours. Lights Out.

7 November 1939 – Sunderland

08:30 hours. Normal Training Programme.

08:45 hours. 2/Lt Miller with 2 L/Cpls and 11 Sappers left for Bishop Auckland.

09:00 hours. L/Sgt Mimmack and Parties left for Chester-le-Street, Houghton, Lambton and Stanley.

12:15 hours. L/Sgt Howard and 4 Sappers left for Middleton Tyas. 2/Lt Edgar left for Stanley.

12:30 hours. 2/Lt Miller returned from Bishop Auckland.

17:30 hours. Party returned from Bishop Auckland.

18:15 hours. 2/Lt Edgar returned from Stanley with Parties from Houghton, Lambton and Chester-le-Street.

21:00 hours. L/Sgt Harris left to pick up Party at Houghton – L/Sgt Howard and 4 Sappers.

22:30 hours. L/Sgt Harris returned with L/Sgt Howard and Party from Houghton.

8 November 1939 – Sunderland

08:30 hours. Normal Training Programme.

08:30 hours. Party of 15 Sappers left for Bishop Auckland.

09:00 hours. 2/Lt Edgar, L/Sgt Mimmack and 20 Sappers left for Chester-le-Street, Houghton, Lambton and Stanley.

09:00 hours. 2/Lt Miller, L/Cpl Little and 1 Sapper left for Bishop Auckland.

11:00 hours. Major Cameron left for reconnaissance.

13:00 hours. 2/Lt Miller and Party returned.

17:50 hours. Bishop Auckland Party returned.

18:00 hours. 2/Lt Edgar returned with Parties from Chester-le-Street, Houghton, Lambton and Stanley.

9 November 1939 – Sunderland

08:30 hours. Normal Training Programme.

08:55 hours. L/Cpl Scott and 11 Sappers left for Bishop Auckland.

09:00 hours. L/Sgt Howard and 1 Sapper left for Barnes Park.

09:00 hours. 2/Lt Edgar and 20 Sappers left for Houghton and Stanley.

09:15 hours. L/Sgt Howard and 1 Sapper returned from Barnes Park.

11:00 hours. L/Sgts Howard and Mimmack and 17 Sappers left for Darlington, Bishop Auckland and Chester-le-Street.

14:00 hours. CQMS Smith left for Sunderland to collect stores.

16:45 Hours. CQMS Smith returned.

17:50 hours. L/Cpl Scott and Party returned.

18:30 hours. 2/Lt Edgar and Parties returned.

19:00 hours. L/Sgts Howard and Mimmack and Parties returned.

19:30 hours. Chester-le-Street Party returned.

10 November 1939 – Sunderland

08:30 hours. Normal Training Programme.

09:15 hours. L/Sgt Mimmack and 21 Sappers left for Darlington and Chester-le-Street.

09:20 hours. L/Cpl Little and 10 Sappers left for Bishop Auckland.

09:20 hours. Sgt Laidler, L/Cpl Burrell and Party left for Houghton and Stanley.

09:20 hours. 2/Lt Miller left for Bishop Auckland.

11:10 hours. 2/Lt Miller returned. Major Cameron went on leave prior to Course at Sheerness.

16:30 hours. Sgt Laidler and Parties returned from Houghton and Stanley.

17:45 hours. 4 Sappers left for HQ.

18:00 hours. L/Cpl Little and Party returned from Bishop Auckland.

18:30 hours. L/Sgt Mimmack and Parties returned.

19:20 hours. 4 Sappers returned from HQ.

11 November 1939 – Sunderland

08:30 hours. Normal Training Programme.

09:15 hours. 7 Sappers left for Bishop Auckland.

09:15 hours. L/Sgt Mimmack and 10 Sappers left for Chester-le-Street.

09:15 Hours. 2/Lt Miller left for Bishop Auckland by car.

09:30 hours. L/Sgt Huskisson left for Houghton with 6 Sappers.

11:25 hours. Load of timber left for L/Sgt Mimmack at Chester-le-Street.

12:00 hours. 2/Lt Miller returned from Bishop Auckland.

16:30 hours. L/Sgt Huskisson and Party returned from Houghton.

17:25 hours. Party returned from Bishop Auckland.

17:30 hours. L/Sgt Mimmack returned with his Party from Chester-le-Street.

12 November 1939 – Sunderland

09:30 hours. Company Parade and Inspection.

10:30 hours. Church Service at Bishopwearmouth Church.

13 November 1939 – Sunderland

08:30 hours. Normal Training Programme.

09:00 hours. L/Cpl Scott left with 11 Sappers for Bishop Auckland.

09:00 hours. L/Sgt Huskisson with L/Cpl Hope and 15 Sappers left for Houghton and Chester-le-Street.

09:20 hours. L/Sgt Howard and 11 Sappers left for Darlington.

10:00 hours. 2/Lt Shirrefs left for Chester-le-Street.

12:30 hours. 2/Lt Shirrefs returned.

17:00 hours. L/Sgt Huskisson and Party returned.

17:45 hours. L/Cpl Scott and Party returned.

18:50 hours. L/Sgt Howard returned with Party from Darlington.

14 November 1939 – Sunderland

08:30 hours. Normal Training Programme.

08:45 hours. L/Sgt Howard went to Bishop Auckland with 2/Lt Miller.

09:15 hours. L/Sgt Burdon and 10 Sappers left for Darlington.

09:30 hours. Sgt Laidler, L/Sgt Mimmack and 11 Sappers left for Houghton and Chester-le-Street.

11:30 hours. Cpl Mogie went to South Shields.

12:00 hours. 2/Lt Miller returned from Bishop Auckland.

12:30 hours. Cpl Mogie returned.

12:30 hours. L/Cpl Scott and 12 Sappers left for Bishop Auckland.

13:30 hours. 2/Lt Miller went to York on Intelligence Course.

17:30 hours. Sgt Laidler returned with Parties from Houghton and Chester-le-Street.

17:45 hours. L/Cpl Scott returned from Bishop Auckland.

18:45 hours. L/Sgt Burdon returned from Darlington.

15 November 1939 – Sunderland

08:30 hours. Normal Training Programme.

08:45 hours. Sgt Laidler, L/Sgt Mimmack and 16 Sappers left for Houghton and Chester-le-Street.

09:00 hours. L/Sgt Howard and 13 Sappers left for Bishop Auckland.

L/Sgt Burdon and 11 Sappers left for Darlington.

11:30 hours. Colonel Kennedy and Adjutant called to see Powder Magazine and inspected Camp.

17:05 hours. Sgt Laidler and Party returned.

17:35 hours. L/Sgt Howard’s Party returned.

19:30 hours. Concert held in Drill Hall. Captain Pritchard’s Party.

23:00 hours. Lights Out.

16 November 1939 – Sunderland

08:30 hours. Normal Training Programme.

09:00 hours. Sgt Laidler and 11 Sappers, L/Sgt Mimmack and 6 Sappers left for Houghton and Chester-le-Street.

09:10 hours. L/Sgt Howard and 13 Sappers left for Bishop Auckland.

09:10 hours. 2/Lt Edgar, L/Cpl Burrell and 2 Sappers left for Houghton.

12:30 hours. 2/Lt Edgar, L/Cpl Burrell and 2 Sappers returned.

15:10 hours. 2/Lt Edgar left for Houghton.

17:30 hours. L/Sgt Mimmack’s Party returned. Sgt Laidler’s Party returned.

18:00 hours. 2/Lt Edgar returned from Houghton.

18:15 hours. L/Sgt Howard and Party returned.

23:00 hours. Lights Out.

17 November 1939 – Sunderland

08:30 hours. Normal Training Programme.

09:00 hours. L/Sgt Mimmack and 9 Sappers left for Darlington.

09:10 hours. Sgt Laidler, L/Cpl Burrell and 13 Sappers left for Houghton and Chester-le-Street.

09:15 hours. L/Sgt Howard and 14 Sappers left for Bishop Auckland.

11:05 hours. 2/Lt Edgar and 3 Sappers left for Houghton.

13:00 hours. 2/Lt Edgar and 3 Sappers returned.

14:40 hours. 2/Lt Edgar and 3 Sappers left for Houghton.

17:00 hours. 2/Lt Edgar and Sappers returned.

17:15 hours. Sgt Laidler and Party returned.

17:40 hours. L/Sgt Howard and Party returned.

18:15 hours. L/Sgt Mimmack and Party returned.

23:00 hours. Lights Out.

18 November 1939 – Sunderland

08:45 hours. Cpl Nicol and 12 Sappers left for Darlington.

09:15 hours. L/Sgt Huskisson, L/Cpl Rennie and 12 Sappers left for Houghton and Chester-le-Street.

09:30 hours. L/Sgt Howard and 3 Sappers left for Bishop Auckland.

15:45 hours. L/Sgt Howard and Party returned.

17:30 hours. Cpl Nicol and Party returned. L/Sgt Huskisson and Party returned.

23:00 hours. Lights Out.

19 November 1939 – Sunderland

08:30 hours. Company Parade and inspection.

R.Cs. attended Church under Senior R.C. at St Jacob’s Church.

10:00 hours. Church Service held in Drill Hall by Captain Pritchard.

23:00 hours. Lights Out.

20 November 1939 – Sunderland

08:30 hours. Company Parade.

08:45 hours. L/Cpl Burrell and 4 Sappers left for works at Fulwell.

09:30 hours. L/Cpl Rennie and 2 Sappers left for work at Stanley and Bentley.

09:30 hours. L/Sgt Huskisson and 16 Sappers left for works at Houghton, Lambton and Chester-le-Street.

L/Sgt Howard and 24 Sappers left for works at Bishop Auckland for DLI.

2/Lt Edgar and 2 Sappers left for works at Fulwell.

10:30 hours. 2/Lt Blench left for 70th Brigade HQ and Bishop Auckland – to inspect billets of 10th DLI.

12:00 hours. 2/Lt Edgar with L/Cpl Burrell and Party returned.

15:00 hours. 2/Lts Shirrefs and Edgar with Party of NCOs. left for 23rd Divisional HQ for lecture on demolition by Commander Royal Engineers.

17:00 hours. 2/Lt Blench returned.

18:00 hours. L/Cpl Rennie and Party returned.

L/Sgt Howard and Party attached to 10th DLI for rations and accommodation.

19:00 hours. 2/Lts Shirrefs and Edgar and Party returned.

20:00 hours. L/Sgt Huskisson and Party returned.

23:00 hours. Lights Out.

21 November 1939 – Sunderland

08:30 hours. Company Parade. Sgt Laidler and Party of NCOs. left for demolition at Marley Hill.

09:10 hours. L/Sgt Mimmack and 11 Sappers left for Darlington.

11:00 hours. 9 Sappers left for Lambton and Chester-le-Street.

17:30 hours. Party of Sappers returned from Lambton and Chester-le-Street.

17:50 hours. Message received – lorry broken down at Ferryhill on return from Darlington.

Lorry left for Ferryhill with M.T. Driver to pick up Sappers.

20:30 hours. Lorry returned from Ferryhill with Party.

23:00 hours. Lights Out.

22 November 1939 – Sunderland

08:30 hours. Company Parade.

2/Lt Edgar and NCOs. left for demolition at Marley Hill.

10 Sappers left for Lambton and Chester-le-Street for works.

09:30 hours. L/Cpl Rennie and 9 Sappers left for works at Seaburn.

17:45 hours. L/Cpl Rennie and Party returned.

18:00 hours. Party returned from Lambton and Chester-le-Street.

2/Lt Edgar and Party returned from Marley Hill.

23:00 hours. Lights Out.

23 November 1939 – Sunderland

08:15 hours. NCOs. left for demolition at Marley Hill.

Party of 11 Sappers left for works at Lambton and Chester-le-Street.

10:30 hours. 2/Lt Miller left for Bishop Auckland to inspect works for 10th DLI. 13:45 hours. 2/Lt Miller returned. 15:30 hours. 2/Lts Blench and Miller left for Durham to inspect billets for DLI. 17:00 hours. 2/Lts Blench and Miller returned. Party returned from Lambton and Chester-le-Street. 18:00 hours. Demolition Party returned. 23:00 hours. Lights Out. 24 November 1939 – Sunderland 08:30 hours. Company Parade. Party of 11 Sappers left for works at Lambton and Birtley. 08:45 hours. L/Sgt Mimmack and Party left to pick up timber from Darlington. 09:15 hours. 2/Lt Miller left for works at Bishop Auckland. 09:30 hours. NCOs. left for demolition at Marley Hill. 14:00 hours. 2/Lt Miller returned. L/Sgt Mimmack returned. 17:00 hours. Party returned from Lambton and Birtley. 17:30 hours. Party returned from Marley Hill. 19:15 hours. Concert given for troops and friends in Drill Hall. 23:00 hours. Lights Out. 25 November 1939 – Sunderland 08:30 hours. Company Parade. 12 Sappers left for works at Lambton and Birtley. 2/Lt Miller left for works at Bishop Auckland. 13:30 hours. 2/Lt Miller returned. 13:35 hours. Team left to play Rugby against 4th Survey Regiment at Ashbrooke. Team left to play Football against ? at Seaburn. 19:00 hours. Party returned from Lambton and Birtley. 23:00 hours. Lights Out. 26 November 1939 – Sunderland 08:30 hours. Company Parade and inspection. R.Cs. attended Mass at St Jacob’s Church. 10:00 hours. Company attended Church Service at Bishopwearmouth Church. 12:25 hours. Officers, NCOs and men left to play Football against 4th Survey Regiment at Gateshead. 23:00 hours. Lights Out. 27 November 1939 – Sunderland 08:30 hours. Company Parade. (Next entry unreadable – poor copy) ? and 3 Sappers left for works at Chester-le-Street. 08:30 hours. L/Sgt Howard and 24 men left for Bishop Auckland after week-end leave, for works at DLI. 08:45 hours. L/Cpl Rennie left for Seaburn on works with Party. 10:00 hours. 2/Lt Miller left for works at Bishop Auckland. 11:30 hours. Colonel Kennedy called to inspect Camp and left later with 2/Lt Blench to inspect works at Houghton and Bishop Auckland. 12:30 hours. 2/Lt Miller returned. 15:15 hours. Party returned from Chester-le-Street. 16:15 hours. Party returned from Seaburn. 23:00 hours. Lights Out. 28 November 1939 – Sunderland 08:00 Company Parade. 09:15 hours. Party left for Darlington for timber. 14:15 hours. CQMS and Sapper left for Fulwell Quarries. 15:15 hours. CQMS returned. 18:00 hours. Party returned from Darlington. 23:00 hours. Lights Out. 29 November 1939 – Sunderland 08:00 Hours. Company Parade. 9 Sappers left for North Riding Fortress R.E. being posted for all purposes. 5 Sappers left for East Riding Fortress R.E. being posted for all purposes. 08:45 hours. L/Cpl Rennie and Party left for Darlington on works. 2/Lt Shirrefs left for Darlington. 14:15 hours. Sgt Ward and Party left for Seaburn. 14:30 hours. 2/Lt Blench left for Bishop Auckland. 18:00 hours. Party returned from Darlington. Party returned from Seaburn. 18:30 hours. 2/Lt Shirrefs returned from Darlington. 19:00 hours. 2/Lt Blench returned from Bishop Auckland. 23:00 hours. Lights Out. 30 November 1939 – Sunderland 08:00 hours. Company Parade. 08:15 hours. Sgt Ward and 9 Sappers left for Livingston Road to dismantle hut. L/Cpl Rennie and 9 Sappers left for Darlington. 12:30 hours. Sgt Ward and Party returned. 18:30 hours. Party returned from Darlington. 23:00 hours. Lights Out.

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