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

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(Created page with "A conference had been held on 9.6.1939 to discuss the title of 23rd Division – whether in fact it should be 63rd. Reference was made to the First World War links with [http:...")
 
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A conference had been held on 9.6.1939 to discuss the title of 23rd Division – whether in fact it should be 63rd. 
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'''Background to the creation of the Brigade'''
  
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Reference was made to the First World War links with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50th_(Northumbrian)_Division 50th Division], when the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/23rd_Division_(United_Kingdom) 23rd Division] had included both the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durham_Light_Infantry#12th_Battalion 12th] and 13th Battalions DLI (New Army) and had fought on the left of the 50th Division on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Somme Somme] in 1916.  The 50th and 23rd Divisions had met again at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3rd_Battle_of_Ypres 3rd Battle of Ypres] in 1917.
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A conference had been held on 9.6.1939 to discuss the proposed title of 23rd Division in the context of the duplication of the size of the Territorial Army – whether in fact it should be 63rd Division. 
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Reference was made to the First World War links with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50th_(Northumbrian)_Division 50th Division], when the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/23rd_Division_(United_Kingdom) 23rd Division] had included both the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durham_Light_Infantry#12th_Battalion 12th] and 13th Battalions DLI (New Army) and had fought on the left of the 50th Division at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Somme Somme] in 1916.  The 50th and 23rd Divisions had met again at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3rd_Battle_of_Ypres 3rd Battle of Ypres] in 1917.
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The prevailing view was that the title of 23rd Division was most appropriate and this was eventually authorised after an appeal by ex-officers to Mr Hore-Belisha, the Secretary of State for War. 
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Separation of the Brigades was intended to be on a geographical basis.  The initial idea was to create a 150th (N.Durham) Brigade under Brigadier Kirkup, containing the  9th, 12th and 11th Battalions of The Durham Light Infantry, headquartered at Chester-le-Street.  The 151st Brigade would then be a South Durham Brigade, under Brigadier Churchill, with 6th, 8th and 10th Battalions of The Durham Light Infantry, with their HQ at Durham City. 
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Both Brigades were intended to be part of the 50th Division.  When duplication of the scale of manpower was being planned the original 150th Brigade and its duplicate had been intended to make up the 23rd Division – both 23rd and 50th Divisions were intended to be motorised.
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However, the annual training for the existing [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/151st_Infantry_Brigade_(United_Kingdom) 151st Brigade] at Whitby had been fixed for 10th – 24th September 1939 so that the Battalions could take part in some exercises in Yorkshire – separation into the new Brigades was to be deferred until after the conclusion of this camp, as all personnel would be attending – recruits for the two weeks, trained men taking part in the exercises on the second week.
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Mobilisation orders interfered with these plans with one Division being required to go overseas as soon as possible - this of course was 50th Division.
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As a result, all trained men except the duplicate COs, Adjutants, Quartermasters and a cadre were kept in the original 151st Brigade Battalions - 6th, 8th and 9th Battalions of The Durham Light Infantry - which then formed 50th Division, along with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/150th_Infantry_Brigade_(United_Kingdom) 150th Brigade], and departed for the B.E.F. in France in due course. 
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The duplicate Battalions of those in the 151st Brigade - namely 10th, 11th and 12th Battalions of The Durham Light Infantry formed 70th Brigade.
  
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The prevailing view was that 23rd was most appropriate and the 23rd was eventually authorised after an appeal by ex-officers to Mr Hore-Belisha.  The duplicate to 151 Brigade became 70 Brigade.
 
 
The Commander of 50th Division, Maj Gen le Q Martel instructed on 14 6 1939 that the procedure for the final separation of the original and duplicate units should be….”The date from which a duplicate unit is considered sufficiently organised to be independent of the “original” unit will be decided and reported to 50th Division”.
 
The Commander of 50th Division, Maj Gen le Q Martel instructed on 14 6 1939 that the procedure for the final separation of the original and duplicate units should be….”The date from which a duplicate unit is considered sufficiently organised to be independent of the “original” unit will be decided and reported to 50th Division”.
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Separation was to be on a geographical basis.  The idea was to create a 150 (N.Durham) Brigade under Brigadier Kirkup 9th, 12th and 11th at Chester-le-Street.  151 would be S. Durham Brigade under Brigadier Churchill with 8th, 6th and 10th and their HQ at Durham City.  Both Brigades would be part of 50th Division.  The original 150 Brigade and its duplicate had been intended to make up 23rd Division – both Divisions were intended to be motorised.
 
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However, the annual training for 151 Brigade at Whitby had been fixed for 10th – 24th September 1939 so the Battalions could take part in some exercises in Yorkshire – separation into the new Brigades was to be deferred until after the conclusion of this camp with all personnel attending – recruits for the two weeks, trained men taking part in the exercises on the second week.  Mobilisation interfered with these plans with one Division going overseas as soon as possible.
 
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All trained men except the duplicate CO, adjutant, Quartermasters and a cadre were kept in the original 151 Brigade Battalions which formed 50 Division along with 150 Brigade.  The latter Battalions formed 70 Brigade.
 
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For the time being 69 and 70 Brigades in 23rd Division were administered by 50th Division and this applied when embodiment took place on 1 9 1939.
 
  
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Embodiment ordered.
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For the time being, 69th and 70th Brigades in the 23rd Division were administered by the 50th Division and this applied when embodiment took place on 1 9 1939.
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Brigade HQ established at Mains House (junction of West Lane and Front Street) Chester-le-Street.  Brigadier P Kirkup DSO OBE MC TDD (ex 8 DLI TA Commander).  Capt Fillingham, Brigade Major, Lieut Trail Staff Captain, 2/Lieut Catto Intelligence Officer.  HQ 41st (Durham) National Defence Corps also set up at Mains House, Lt Col Stafford commanding/Maj. Boys-Stones as Adjutant.
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10th Bn HQ Bishop Auckland.
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'''1st September 1939'''
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11th Bn HQ Durham, Coys at Birtley, Chester-le-Street, Stanley, Houghton-le-Spring.
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Embodiment of the Territorial Army was ordered.
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70th Brigade HQ was established at Mains House (junction of West Lane and Front Street) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester-le-Street Chester-le-Street].  The initial Brigade officers were:-
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Brigade Commander - Brigadier Philip Kirkup DSO OBE MC TD (formerly Commander of 8th DLI in World War One).   
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Brigade Major - Capt Fillingham. 
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Staff Captain - Lieut Trail.
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Intelligence Officer - 2/Lieut Catto.   
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HQ of the 41st (Durham) National Defence Corps was also set up initially at Mains House - Lt Col Stafford commanding and Maj. Boys-Stones as Adjutant.
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10th Battalion had its HQ at Bishop Auckland.
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11th Battalion had its HQ at Durham, with Companies at Birtley, Chester-le-Street, Stanley and Houghton-le-Spring.
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12th Battalion had its HQ at Team Valley, Gateshead.

Revision as of 15:28, 10 June 2011

Background to the creation of the Brigade

A conference had been held on 9.6.1939 to discuss the proposed title of 23rd Division in the context of the duplication of the size of the Territorial Army – whether in fact it should be 63rd Division.

Reference was made to the First World War links with 50th Division, when the 23rd Division had included both the 12th and 13th Battalions DLI (New Army) and had fought on the left of the 50th Division at the Somme in 1916. The 50th and 23rd Divisions had met again at the 3rd Battle of Ypres in 1917.

The prevailing view was that the title of 23rd Division was most appropriate and this was eventually authorised after an appeal by ex-officers to Mr Hore-Belisha, the Secretary of State for War.

Separation of the Brigades was intended to be on a geographical basis. The initial idea was to create a 150th (N.Durham) Brigade under Brigadier Kirkup, containing the 9th, 12th and 11th Battalions of The Durham Light Infantry, headquartered at Chester-le-Street. The 151st Brigade would then be a South Durham Brigade, under Brigadier Churchill, with 6th, 8th and 10th Battalions of The Durham Light Infantry, with their HQ at Durham City.

Both Brigades were intended to be part of the 50th Division. When duplication of the scale of manpower was being planned the original 150th Brigade and its duplicate had been intended to make up the 23rd Division – both 23rd and 50th Divisions were intended to be motorised.

However, the annual training for the existing 151st Brigade at Whitby had been fixed for 10th – 24th September 1939 so that the Battalions could take part in some exercises in Yorkshire – separation into the new Brigades was to be deferred until after the conclusion of this camp, as all personnel would be attending – recruits for the two weeks, trained men taking part in the exercises on the second week.

Mobilisation orders interfered with these plans with one Division being required to go overseas as soon as possible - this of course was 50th Division.

As a result, all trained men except the duplicate COs, Adjutants, Quartermasters and a cadre were kept in the original 151st Brigade Battalions - 6th, 8th and 9th Battalions of The Durham Light Infantry - which then formed 50th Division, along with 150th Brigade, and departed for the B.E.F. in France in due course.

The duplicate Battalions of those in the 151st Brigade - namely 10th, 11th and 12th Battalions of The Durham Light Infantry formed 70th Brigade.

The Commander of 50th Division, Maj Gen le Q Martel instructed on 14 6 1939 that the procedure for the final separation of the original and duplicate units should be….”The date from which a duplicate unit is considered sufficiently organised to be independent of the “original” unit will be decided and reported to 50th Division”.

For the time being, 69th and 70th Brigades in the 23rd Division were administered by the 50th Division and this applied when embodiment took place on 1 9 1939.

1st September 1939

Embodiment of the Territorial Army was ordered.

70th Brigade HQ was established at Mains House (junction of West Lane and Front Street) Chester-le-Street. The initial Brigade officers were:-

Brigade Commander - Brigadier Philip Kirkup DSO OBE MC TD (formerly Commander of 8th DLI in World War One).

Brigade Major - Capt Fillingham.

Staff Captain - Lieut Trail.

Intelligence Officer - 2/Lieut Catto.

HQ of the 41st (Durham) National Defence Corps was also set up initially at Mains House - Lt Col Stafford commanding and Maj. Boys-Stones as Adjutant.

10th Battalion had its HQ at Bishop Auckland.

11th Battalion had its HQ at Durham, with Companies at Birtley, Chester-le-Street, Stanley and Houghton-le-Spring.

12th Battalion had its HQ at Team Valley, Gateshead.

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