War Diary of the 13th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry, April 1940.
1 April 1940 – Low Fell.
Strength of Battalion – 40 Officers, 970 Other Ranks.
C.O. visited Windlestone PoW Camp with Captain Ramsden M.C. with a view to putting two Platoons there.
3 April 1940
C.O. visited Hebburn billets at the Miners’ Institute and the Co-operative Hall. The Wing Commander at Usworth RAF Station was also seen by the C.O.
4 April 1940
Company Commanders’ Conference.
10 Other Ranks under CQMS Brooke left to join 9th Green Howards for Garrison Duty abroad.
6 April 1940
A guard of 1 NCO and 3 men was withdrawn from Ventilating Shaft at Hebburn.
9 April 1940
Guards withdrawn from Brigham and Cowans, Tyne Dock Engineering.
10 April 1940
2 Officers and 50 Other Ranks went by train 07:10 hours from Gateshead to Beverley, Yorks to guard RAF Leconfield.
Guard at Wm Grays withdrawn.
2 Officers and 73 Other Ranks of E Company went to PoW Camp, Windlestone.
11 April 1940
Guard withdrawn from Mercantile Dry Dock to East Boldon HQ.
15 April 1940
About 40 Other ranks under Lieut Gideon, A Company and 52 Other Ranks under Lieut Kitchingman Y Company relieved B Company on the Tyne Bridges. The whole Guard was placed in charge of Lieut Coleby who was responsible to OC A Company.
16 April 1940
Captain Thomson and Lieut Hodgson motored to Doncaster to HQ 6th Battalion KOYLI with a view to move the whole Company on 17th inst.
17 April 1940
B Company moved by train – 3 Officers and 133 Other Ranks from Newcastle to Finningley, Doncaster to take over Vulnerable Points from 6th Battalion KOYLI. Left at 12:35 hours.
Brigadier Kirkup and Lt McNicoll called.
B Company reported relief completed at 18:45 hours. Area informed 19:00 hours.
19 April 1940
Company Commanders’ Conference.
On Orders from Area, 15 Other Ranks withdrawn from Windlestone, leaving about 60 Other Ranks there to avoid overcrowding. Six Company and Headquarters cars arrived in poor order.
The page of the War Diary covering the remainder of 19 April up to part of 26 April was a very poor copy and could not easily be interpreted.
26 April 1940
….Belmont and Croxdale.
27 April 1940
D Company detachment left Burt Terrace Drill Hall, Gateshead.
Detachment of C Company arrived back from Leconfield at 17:05 hours.
C.O. proceeded to Burt Terrace Drill Hall.
30 April 1940
C.O. visited Belmont and Finchale also C Company’s detachment at Burt Terrace.
