War Diary of the 13th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry, August 1939.

22 August 1939 – Newcastle-upon-Tyne

17:30 hours. Territorial Force Association telephoned that Code Word “ALLENBY” had been received. As this conveyed nothing, Territorial Force kindly decoded it as “Call out Key Men” for National Defence Company.

The parties of Durham Group N.D.C as No. 41 Group was then called was roughly:-

Headquarters – Lieutenant Colonel J E Stafford, Major R Boys-Stones M.C. and no staff, at Messrs Liddell-Stafford’s offices, Royal Exchange Building, Newcastle upon Tyne.

“L” Company later changed to “B” Company –

Captain R Morton Smith and 5 other Officers,

At Dykelands Drill Hall, Seaburn, Sunderland.

Strength about 180 enlisted or waiting to be enlisted.

“H” Company, later changed to “B” Company.

Captain R Thomson and 3 other Officers,

At Burt Terrace Drill Hall, Gateshead.

Strength about 100 enlisted or waiting to be enlisted.

“G” Company later changed to “C” Company,

Captain J F Hobson M.C. and no Officers,

At The Drill Hall,Gilesgate, Durham.

Strength about 97 enlisted or waiting to be enlisted.

“F” Company later changed to “D” Company

Lieutenant B Sinclair and no Officers.

At The Drill Hall, Bishop Auckland.

Strength about 52 enlisted or waiting to be enlisted.

“E” Company

Captain R Ramsden M.C. and 4 other Officers.

At The Drill Hall, Stockton-on-Tees.

Strength about 120 enlisted or waiting to be enlisted.

The total strength therefore was about 18 Officers and 549 Other Ranks.

The majority of the Officers had no uniform and of course no clothing, arms, equipment or stores had been issued or were even available at the respective Company Headquarters.

The majority of the Vulnerable Points which it was intended NDC should guard had never been seen by any except the Commanding Officer himself.

24 August 1939

Was spent very busily by Group Headquarters in trying to arrange some sort of accommodation at Vulnerable Points and by the Company Commanders in trying to prepare to receive the men and stores which latter were expected on the night of 24/25th. Notes on a blotting pad re Payment of Bounties, Gas Masks, Tents, Imprest Account, Accommodation Stores at Vulnerable Points, Arms etc. give some indication of a varied day.

17:20 hours. Captain Long, Territorial Force Association, telephones to say NDCs were being ordered to mobilize.

18:10 hours. Area ordered mobilisation and movement to First Priority Vulnerable Points when stores arrived.

19:15 hours. Preliminary arrangements for lorries and buses had been made with Major Morton, RASC, Fenham.

23:35 hours. H (B) Company reported arrival of equipment etc. for about 80 men.

23:45 hours. E Company stated it expected to move to V.P. 62, Tees Norton Ammunition Dump.

23:50 hours. F (D) Company asked for transport for 23:30 hours, 25th, to move to Croxdale and Belmont.

25 August 1939

8 to 8:15 hours. L, G, F, H reported arrivals of stores and rifles and a good turn-up of men.

Area this morning made the good arrangement that it would issue a daily bulletin confirming the principal orders to be issued during the day. This worked well.

10:20 hours. Area urged rapid recruitment to man all Vulnerable Points.

E Company stores and arms did not arrive until 15:00 hours as there was no move to NORTON until 26th.

11:30 hours. H (B) Company reported ready to move to SUNDERLAND TUNNELS and VICTORIA BRIDGE.

13:40 hours. Area asked for a daily strength and progress report as at 18:00 hours. These are henceforth included in the Diary.

15:10 hours. G ( C) Company occupied BIRTLEY Royal Ordnance Factory and FINCHALE DUMP.

15:55 hours. F Company ready to move to CROXDALE BRIDGE.

The C.O. visited EAST BOLDON, SUNDERLAND and EAST BOLDON.

Strengths:

E Company – 4 Officers, 134 Other Ranks, 15 newly joined.

F Company – 1 Officer, 39 Other Ranks (others still arriving). Newly joined – not yet known.

G Company – 2 Officers, 93 Other Ranks, 10 newly joined.

H Company – 2 Officers, 83 Other Ranks (out of 104), 20 newly joined.

L Company – 6 Officers, 181 Other Ranks, 39 newly joined.

Not all men attested have yet been medically passed.

26 August 1939

Serial No. 59. 1 Officer and 44 men of G Company have proceeded and occupied this point.

Serial No. 60. An Advance Party of 6 Other Ranks is there. It is expected that additional Other Ranks will reach this point tonight – G Company.

Serial No. 61. A party from H Company has proceeded to occupy this point.

Serial No. 62. It is expected that this point will be occupied by mid-day tomorrow – E Company.

Serial No. 66. The relief by L Company of the Regular Unit at present forming the guard of this point is expected to take place on the afternoon of the 27th.

CROXDALE BRIDGE. A party from F Company has proceeded to occupy this point.

BELMONT VIADUCT. A party from F Company has proceeded to occupy this point.

VICTORIA BRIDGE, SUNDERLAND NORTH, SUNDERLAND SOUTH. Parties from H Company have occupied all these points.

The C.O. went out early and spent the whole day visiting and arranging matters at BIRTLEY, FINCHALE, BELMONT and CROXDALE.

11:45 hours. Divisional Commander by telegram stated that N.D.C. would not be responsible for TEES and HARTLEPOOL Defences or PORT Detachments at HARTLEPOOL, SEAHAM or SUNDERLAND.

12:15 hours. Told Area Commander N.D.C. could and would take over guards at R.A.F. USWORTH on August 29th.

16:20 hours. Made all arrangements with RASC for transport of L (A) Company to BILLINGHAM on 27th. Advance Party leaving 09:00 hours. Main Party 11:30 hours.

17:30 hours. Asked Area for a motor van for taking food round the posts at BILLINGHAM. Area arranged this and it has proved invaluable.

During the early stages of mobilisation an enormous amount of telephoning re. arms, equipment and stores arriving or not arriving was done but, on the whole, DADOS and Area were most excellent and helpful. There are many interesting items on bits of paper.

Overalls for Cooks? Paraffin for hurricane lamps? Torches for Y Pa? Boots wanted. And of course many queries about clothing. The Durham TA Association was magnificent in getting our clothing and apparently well ahead of others.

Situation at 18:00 hours.

26th August 18:00 hours. All first priority vulnerable points with the exception of BILLINGHAM are now occupied at approximate full strength. The general equipment and stores asked for have been quickly received.

Serial No. 59. This post has been increased to 80 Other Ranks as the original estimate of 50 was inadequate.

BILLINGHAM. The relief of THE GREEN HOWARDS will take place tomorrow by “L” Company from SUNDERLAND (160 all ranks). Transport has been arranged.

Serial No. 56. The relief of 5th Division Militia by “E” Company will take place on Monday 28th instant.

Serial No. 62. NORTON. This detachment has no gas masks and ammunition.

General situation at Vulnerable Points.

Personal inspection and reports from Company Commanders indicate that on the whole personnel have settled down well and not too uncomfortably.

27 August 1939

13:20 hours. “L” Company (A) reported relief of GREEN HOWARDS at BILLINGHAM complete. The Colonel visited BILLINGHAM in the afternoon, returning via NORTON and Area HQ at DARLINGTON.

Relief of Serial No. 56.

The stores etc. required for the 70 Other Ranks at 5th DLI DRILL HALL, WEST HARTLEPOOL for this relief NOT arrived.

DEFICIENCIES

Clothing and boots are most urgently required.

2 Electric torches per Vulnerable Point.

A small First Aid pannier for Vulnerable Points and Company HQ.

Paraffin for Hurricane Lamps.

Almost all Vulnerable Points should have a supply of Gum Boots.

28 August 1939

C.O. spent the whole day visiting R.A.F. Station USWORTH, HOBSON at DURHAM and Company Headquarters at BISHOP AUCKLAND.

17:30 hours. “E” Company completed relief of Militia at R.A.F. USWORTH.

Serial No. 56. One Officer and a Sergeant Major proceeded to this post at 12:35 hours pending the movement of troops to be relieved. The full relief was carried out and completed at 17:50 hours. Two Officers and 68 Other Ranks.

Serial No. 68. As authorised by Area the strength of this point has been increased to 170 Other Ranks.

CROXDALE BRIDGE. Strength increased to 20 Other Ranks.

BELMONT VIADUCT. Strength increased to 20 Other Ranks.

SUNDERLAND NORTH. Strength increased to 20 Other Ranks.

SUNDERLAND SOUTH. Strength increased to 20 Other Ranks.

29 August 1939

03:00 hours. Private Milburn, F Company (D) was Killed while on sentry duty at CROXDALE BRIDGE by a passing train. C.O. met Area Commander at CROXDALE and examined the place of the accident. Afterwards visited DURHAM, BELMONT and BIRTLEY.

10:00 hours. Companies advised to expect clothing.

By evening, uniforms (battle dress), boots, shirts and socks had arrived for E, F, G and H Companies.

Clothing and boots. Territorial Force Association expects to complete delivery today to Company Headquarters of uniforms, boots, shirts and socks.

Gum boots are, however, still urgently needed at Vulnerable Points situated in the open country. Apparently the Territorial Force could only obtain or buy on Divisional authority. Can this be obtained?

Fatal casualty. As already reported by telephone, Pte G R Milburn, F Company NDC while on duty at CROXDALE BRIDGE was killed by a train at about 03:00 hours. The necessary Court of Enquiry will be held in due course.

30 August 1939

14:35 hours. Area ‘phoned. All Transport Fitting Establishments to manned forthwith. All Companies warned.

17:00 hours. Area reiterated importance of manning at once T.T.Es. “H” Company (B) told to inspect Vulnerable Points 41, 42, 43. “M” (A) Company Vulnerable Points 44,45.

20:00 hours. Vulnerable Point 42 manned.

Commanding Officer paid a visit to USWORTH.

31 August 1939

12:20 hours. Vulnerable Point 43 occupied.

17:45 hours. Vulnerable Points 44 and 45 occupied.

Commanding Officer visited Mercantile Dry Dock.