125th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, War Diary May 1940
5 May 1940 – Sunderland
18:00 hours. Lieut K F Patton RAMC attended Sanitary and Water Duties Refresher Course, MYTCHETT.
6 May 1940 – Sunderland
18:00 hours. The following men attended Fitters (Motor Vehicle) Course, Ministry of Labour Training Centre, SPENNYMOOR :-
919806 Gunner Tuddenham T
944384 Gunner Garbutt T W
913360 Gunner Askew J
916818 Gunner Hood J W M
10 May 1940 – Sunderland
18:00 hours. Advance Party 295 Field Battery, Royal Artillery, sent to WARK to arrange reception of Main Body to Camp. Code Word received 11:50 hours. Officers recalled from leave 12:20 hours.
13 May 1940 – Sunderland
18:00 hours. No. 925146 Gunner Smith S W attended Butchers’ Course, Catterick.
14 May 1940 – Sunderland
18:00 hours. 2/Lieut M Goodyear proceeded to Messing Officers’ Course, SKEGNESS.
15 May 1940 – Sunderland
18:00 hours. Main Body 295 Field Battery, Royal Artillery, proceeded by train and road to Camp at WARK.
16 May 1940 – Sunderland
18:00 hours. No. 922295 Gunner Youll W H transferred to No. 2 Railway Training Centre, DERBY.
2/Lieut W Phorson proceeded to HYTHE for 4th Administration Course.
17 May 1940 – Sunderland
18:00 hours. No. 919811 Gunner Barton J B and No. 923015 Gunner Heath T A attended Motor Mechanics Course, ALDERSHOT.
18 May 1940 – Sunderland
18:00 hours. No. 4450894 Gunner Reay S and 922304 Gunner Winn N proceeded to Technical Course at ROTHERHAM.
20 May 1940 – Sunderland
18:00 hours. 2/Lieut J I Watson proceeded to SKEGNESS for Messing Officers’ Course.
22 May 1940 – Sunderland
18:00 hours. Medical Examination of personnel of the Unit commenced.
23 May 1940 – Sunderland
18:00 hours. No. 914923 Gunner Wright W H posted to No. 2 Railway Training Centre, Royal Engineers, DERBY.
No. 917077 Lance Sergeant Burnikell N proceeded to School of Artillery, LARKHILL, for Fitters’ Course.
9 Other Ranks Classified medical category “C” and posted to Depot Royal Artillery, WOOLWICH. See Appendix “A” below for details.
25 May 1940 – Sunderland
18:00 hours. 295 Field Battery, Royal Artillery, recalled from Camp to Home Station.
Major S W Milburn M.C., Royal Artillery, C.O. 2 attended Conference at 54 Division, MORPETH.
26 May 1940 – Sunderland
03:30 hours. Message received from 163 Infantry Brigade that defensive posts must be recced and occupied by dusk.
27 May 1940 – Sunderland
18:00 hours. Recce of posts completed and posts occupied by 18:00 hours.
Promulgation of General Court Martial in the case of Lieutenant Quartermaster E H Creal, Royal Artillery. Officer dismissed the Service.
28 May 1940 – Sunderland
18:00 hours. Operation Instruction No. 1 sent out – first on active service. (No copy filed with the War Diary).
30 May 1940 – Sunderland
18:00 hours. Brigadier Mosley, 163 Infantry Brigade visited Regimental HQ and inspected Posts.
Construction of defensive posts north and south of the RIVER WEAR proceeding.
23:59 hours. Post 14 received warning from Naval authorities of air activity off the East Coast. All posts warned – no planes observed – clouds 3,000 feet – visibility good.
31 May 1940 – Sunderland
01:15 hours. Message received from 163 Infantry Brigade for defensive posts to be manned immediately. Posts fully manned in 30 minutes.
01:18 hours. Post 14 received warning from Naval authorities of expected enemy action.
No. 902353 Gunner Marlborough J J attended Sanitary Duties Course Serial No. 9 (c ).
No. 918185 Gunner Curry H attended Water Duties Course, Serial 9 (D).
Captain A H McQueen proceeded to LARKHILL for Course No. 67.
Appendices attached to May 1940 War Diary of 125 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery.
Appendix A – List of men classified medical category “C” and posted to Royal Artillery Depot, Woolwich.
4446589 Gunner Briton R
901979 Gunner Lewis S W
944586 Gunner Ashton D H
924344 Gunner Ford W
921572 Gunner Atkinson J
912486 Gunner Collins G
911887 Gunner Hendry W
1661848 Gunner Kirtley C D W
918749 Gunner Proctor J E
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