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

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(Created page with "'''1st December 1939''' Individual training continued as in earlier months. Young officers’ courses numbers 2 and 3 started. New officers posted in. Training events include...")
 
 
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'''1st December 1939'''
 
'''1st December 1939'''
  
−
Individual training continued as in earlier months.  Young officers’ courses numbers 2 and 3 started. New officers posted in.  Training events included aircraft identification.  More administrative visits took place, such as DADOS, GS03, PT.
+
Individual training continued as in earlier months.   
 +
 
 +
A copy of the "Operation Instructions No 1", together with Amendment No. 1, as issued by the Brigade, dated 30th November 1939 were attached as an Appendix to the original War Diary, covering the Brigade's responsibilities under the area Civil Defence Scheme, dated 19th October 1939.  ''(Unfortunately a copy of the Order was not found within the file at the National Records Office, though the Appendix was).''
 +
 
 +
'''4th December 1939'''
 +
 
 +
Young officers’ course numbers 2 started, with a total of thirteen Officers - five each from the 10th and 12th Battalions, and three from the 11th Battalion taking part.
 +
 
 +
'''5th December 1939'''
 +
 
 +
New officers were posted in from the 163rd Course from the Officer Candidate Training Unit at Shorncliffe.   
 +
 
 +
All were posted to the 10th Battalion as follows:-
 +
 
 +
2/Lt J.H.Davis
 +
 
 +
2/Lt N.J.Seymour
 +
 
 +
2/Lt J.R.K.Steele
 +
 
 +
2/Lt M.R.H.Watkins
 +
 
 +
'''6th December 1939'''
 +
 
 +
The Brigade has a visit from Major Bland, Deputy Assistant Director of Supply.
  
 
'''7th December 1939'''
 
'''7th December 1939'''
  
−
Concert – Jubilee Hall, BISHOP AUCKLAND.
+
A lecture was given in the morning at the Pelaw Welfare Hall, Chester-le-Street on the identification of aircraft by Flt. Lt. Irish of the R.A.F., and was repeated in the afternoon at the Infantry Training Centre, Brancepeth Castle.
 +
 
 +
The N.A.A.F.I. organised a Mobile Cinema Show at Lambton Castle.
 +
 
 +
A Concert was given at the Jubilee Hall, BISHOP AUCKLAND, by the Bishop Auckland Dramatic Society.
 +
 
 +
'''10th December 1939'''
 +
 
 +
Lt L.D.Haggie was posted to 10th Battalion from the Regular Army Reserve of Officers (RARO).
  
 
'''11th December 1939'''
 
'''11th December 1939'''
  
−
A Coy 10th Bn moved back to DARLINGTON on Civil Defence duties from BISHOP AUCKLAND.
+
Captain C.M.L.McCoy assumed the duties of Adjutant of the 10th Battalion.
 +
 
 +
The 3rd Young Officers' Course opened with six Officers from 10th Battalion, three from 11th and two from the 12th Battalion.
 +
 
 +
"A" Company of the 10th Battalion moved back to DARLINGTON on Civil Defence duties from BISHOP AUCKLAND.
 +
 
 +
In the afternoon the Brigade Major have a lecture on Individual Training at the Pelaw Welfare Hall, Chester-le-Street.
  
 
'''14th December 1939'''
 
'''14th December 1939'''
  
−
10th Bn (less A Coy) moved from BISHOP AUCKLAND to SOUTH SHIELDS – billeted in schools in Mowbray and Stanhope Roads.
+
The 10th Battalion (less "A" Company) moved from BISHOP AUCKLAND to SOUTH SHIELDS, and was billeted in the schools in Mowbray and Stanhope Roads.
−
Coy 12th Bn marched from SOUTH SHIELDS to GATESHEAD.
+
  
 
'''15th December 1939'''
 
'''15th December 1939'''
  
−
Coy 12th Bn moved to GATESHEAD from SUNDERLAND.
+
One company of the 12th Battalion marched from SOUTH SHIELDS to GATESHEAD, while another moved to Gateshead from Sunderland.
−
2 Coys moved to other schools in GATESHEAD.
+
 
 +
Two other 12th Battalion Companies moved from the Alexandra Road Schools to other schools in GATESHEAD.
 +
 
 +
'''16th December 1939'''
 +
 
 +
Major E.H.Veitch M.C., formerly of 8th DLI left his voluntary appointment with the Brigade staff to take up an appointment with the Northumbrian Area Quartering Committee. 
  
 
'''19th December 1939'''
 
'''19th December 1939'''
  
−
Concert in the Central Hall at GATESHEAD.
+
A Concert was held for the troops of the Brigade in the Central Hall, High West Street,  GATESHEAD.
 +
 
 +
The G.S.O.3 from Northern Command visited the 10th and 11th Battalions.
 +
 
 +
'''20th December 1939'''
 +
 
 +
The G.S.O.3 from Northern Command continued his visit to the 10th Battalion and also visited the 12th Battalion.
  
 
'''21st December 1939'''
 
'''21st December 1939'''
  
−
Concert in the Empire Ballroom, CHESTER-LE-STREET.
+
A Concert was held in the Empire Ballroom, CHESTER-LE-STREET.
−
D Coy 10th Bn changed to Baring Street schools in SOUTH SHIELDS from Stanhope Road.
+
 
 +
"D" Coy of the 10th Battalion changed its location to Baring Street Schools in SOUTH SHIELDS from Stanhope Road Schools.
  
 
'''22nd December 1939'''
 
'''22nd December 1939'''
  
−
A Coy 10th Bn joined D Coy at Baring Street, SOUTH SHIELDS, from DARLINGTON.
+
"A" Company of the 10th Battalion joined "D" Company at Baring Street Schools, SOUTH SHIELDS, from its former location in DARLINGTON.
−
Concert – St Joan RC Hall, DUNSTON.
+
 
 +
A Concert was held in St Joan RC Hall, Pine Street, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunston,_Tyne_and_Wear DUNSTON].
 +
 
 +
2/Lt J.R.K. Steele was attached temporarily to Brigade HQ from the 10th Battalion.
 +
 
 +
24th December 1939
 +
 
 +
2/Lt D.C.MacNichol re-assumed his duties as Intelligence Officer at Brigade HQ, on completion of No 3 Intelligence Course at Minley Manor.
 +
 
 +
The Brigade Commander, Brigadier Kirkup, issued a Special Order of the Day:-
 +
 
 +
"The Brigade Commander sends his very best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to all Officers and Men of the 70th Brigade.
 +
 
 +
He is unable to visit each detachment personally on Christmas Day, but will be glad if these Orders could be read to all ranks on that day.  He is confident, from what he has seen of the fine spirit and enthusiasm shown these last few months, that the 70th Infantry Brigade will well be able to tackle all that it is called upon to do in the coming year."
 +
 
 +
 
 +
To contact the author by e-mail with any queries, or to send information - [mailto:70brigade@newmp.org.uk click here].

Latest revision as of 14:41, 30 April 2012

1st December 1939

Individual training continued as in earlier months.

A copy of the "Operation Instructions No 1", together with Amendment No. 1, as issued by the Brigade, dated 30th November 1939 were attached as an Appendix to the original War Diary, covering the Brigade's responsibilities under the area Civil Defence Scheme, dated 19th October 1939. (Unfortunately a copy of the Order was not found within the file at the National Records Office, though the Appendix was).

4th December 1939

Young officers’ course numbers 2 started, with a total of thirteen Officers - five each from the 10th and 12th Battalions, and three from the 11th Battalion taking part.

5th December 1939

New officers were posted in from the 163rd Course from the Officer Candidate Training Unit at Shorncliffe.

All were posted to the 10th Battalion as follows:-

2/Lt J.H.Davis

2/Lt N.J.Seymour

2/Lt J.R.K.Steele

2/Lt M.R.H.Watkins

6th December 1939

The Brigade has a visit from Major Bland, Deputy Assistant Director of Supply.

7th December 1939

A lecture was given in the morning at the Pelaw Welfare Hall, Chester-le-Street on the identification of aircraft by Flt. Lt. Irish of the R.A.F., and was repeated in the afternoon at the Infantry Training Centre, Brancepeth Castle.

The N.A.A.F.I. organised a Mobile Cinema Show at Lambton Castle.

A Concert was given at the Jubilee Hall, BISHOP AUCKLAND, by the Bishop Auckland Dramatic Society.

10th December 1939

Lt L.D.Haggie was posted to 10th Battalion from the Regular Army Reserve of Officers (RARO).

11th December 1939

Captain C.M.L.McCoy assumed the duties of Adjutant of the 10th Battalion.

The 3rd Young Officers' Course opened with six Officers from 10th Battalion, three from 11th and two from the 12th Battalion.

"A" Company of the 10th Battalion moved back to DARLINGTON on Civil Defence duties from BISHOP AUCKLAND.

In the afternoon the Brigade Major have a lecture on Individual Training at the Pelaw Welfare Hall, Chester-le-Street.

14th December 1939

The 10th Battalion (less "A" Company) moved from BISHOP AUCKLAND to SOUTH SHIELDS, and was billeted in the schools in Mowbray and Stanhope Roads.

15th December 1939

One company of the 12th Battalion marched from SOUTH SHIELDS to GATESHEAD, while another moved to Gateshead from Sunderland.

Two other 12th Battalion Companies moved from the Alexandra Road Schools to other schools in GATESHEAD.

16th December 1939

Major E.H.Veitch M.C., formerly of 8th DLI left his voluntary appointment with the Brigade staff to take up an appointment with the Northumbrian Area Quartering Committee.

19th December 1939

A Concert was held for the troops of the Brigade in the Central Hall, High West Street, GATESHEAD.

The G.S.O.3 from Northern Command visited the 10th and 11th Battalions.

20th December 1939

The G.S.O.3 from Northern Command continued his visit to the 10th Battalion and also visited the 12th Battalion.

21st December 1939

A Concert was held in the Empire Ballroom, CHESTER-LE-STREET.

"D" Coy of the 10th Battalion changed its location to Baring Street Schools in SOUTH SHIELDS from Stanhope Road Schools.

22nd December 1939

"A" Company of the 10th Battalion joined "D" Company at Baring Street Schools, SOUTH SHIELDS, from its former location in DARLINGTON.

A Concert was held in St Joan RC Hall, Pine Street, DUNSTON.

2/Lt J.R.K. Steele was attached temporarily to Brigade HQ from the 10th Battalion.

24th December 1939

2/Lt D.C.MacNichol re-assumed his duties as Intelligence Officer at Brigade HQ, on completion of No 3 Intelligence Course at Minley Manor.

The Brigade Commander, Brigadier Kirkup, issued a Special Order of the Day:-

"The Brigade Commander sends his very best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to all Officers and Men of the 70th Brigade.

He is unable to visit each detachment personally on Christmas Day, but will be glad if these Orders could be read to all ranks on that day. He is confident, from what he has seen of the fine spirit and enthusiasm shown these last few months, that the 70th Infantry Brigade will well be able to tackle all that it is called upon to do in the coming year."


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

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