Difference between revisions of "AQ Branch 23rd (Northumbrian) Division March 1940."

Revision as of 20:28, 10 May 2011

Administrative Order No 1

The Division's first Administrative Order was issued on 24th March 1940 and was concerned with the move overseas, which had been forecast for mid-April 1940.

It is not the intention to set out the full content of orders like this, but to select what appear to be relevant or important in the understanding of the role and structure of this formation. This particular document ran to eight foolscap pages plus three pages of Appendices. To begin by setting the scale of the move....

Appendix A to the Order listed the units to move overseas, their establishment references, and their serial numbers - these were used to allocate units to ships, trains and so on.

The units listed were as follows:-

Divisional HQ - Modified establishment.

Employment Platoon - War Establishment 11/1931/25/1

HQ - 23rd Division Royal Engineers - Modified establishment.

508 Field Park Company Royal Engineers - Modified establishment.

233 Field Company Royal Engineers - Modified establishment.

507 Field Company Royal Engineers - Modified establishment.

Detachment of 23rd Division Signals - Special War Establishment.

HQ 69 Infantry Brigade - Modified establishment.

5th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment - Modified establishment.

6th Battalion Green Howards - Modified establishment.

7th Battalion Green Howards - Modified establishment.

HQ 70 Infantry Brigade - Modified establishment.

10th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry - Modified establishment.

11th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry - Modified establishment.

12th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry - Modified establishment. (this entry should, of course,have read 1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish).

8th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers - Motorcycle Battalion.

9th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers - Machine-gun Battalion.

One Echelon Divisional Supply Column - Special War Establishment.

186 Field Ambulance - Modified establishment.

33rd Field Hygiene Section - Modified establishment.

One Light Aid Detachment - War Establishment 111/1931/53/3.

23rd Division Provost Company (less three Sections)- Modified establishment.

Divisional Postal Unit - War Establishment 11/1931/21/2.

The body of the Order gives some information as to the meaning of "Special" or "Modified" but not a full explanation.

The Order starts with identifying the units which were due to be raised new, and for which mobilisation orders would be issued - these were the Employment Platoon, Divisional Signals, Supply Column, Light Aid Detachment and the Postal Unit. The remaining units - by far the major part of the Division - were understood not to be completely mobilised and were instructed to organise themselves to the appropriate War Establishments within the numbers presently available, plus those men whose postings would be notified separately.

Divisional HQ was to move without Medical Services or Chaplains, leaving the Officer Commanding the Field Ambulance as the Assistant Director of Medical Services for the Division, in addition to his normal responsibilities. Signals and Supplies were to proceed, as indicated, on a special war establishment. Provost would only have an HQ and three Sections, rather than six.

Units were expected to depart as strong in numbers as possible but the Order gave very specific instructions as to the medical grades that could embark - essentially nobody below the grade of B.4 could be included. Similarly everyone had to be at least 19 years of age, as at 15th April 1940, before they could be included. Units were instructed to report on a weekly basis the numbers of men of medical category B. 5 and lower. "Immatures" would be subject to special instructions, once decisions on their participation had been made.