War Diary of the 13th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry, February 1940.
1 February 1940 – Low Fell.
Strength of Battalion – 37 Officers, 960 Other Ranks.
Commanding Officer proceeds on 7 days privilege leave.
Major R Boys-Stones held Orderly Room at Billingham.
5 February 1940
Court of Inquiry held at Battalion Headquarters into loss of money by A Company.
6 February 1940
NCOs P.A.D. Course (4 days) given by Battalion P.A.D. Officer.
Major R Boys-Stones visited C Company for Orderly Room.
7 February 1940
Major R Boys-Stones again visited C Company and awarded District Court Martial to Sergeant John Thomas.
8 February 1940
Commanding Officer inspected B Company and QM Stores.
10 February 1940
Commanding Officer visited V.P. 105 with Colonel Robinson re. Defence Schemes.
12 February 1940
8 NCOs commenced 10 days’ Lewis Gun Course at Brancepeth Castle.
13 February 1940
Commanding Officer visited E Company, Billingham and held Orderly Room.
14 February 1940
Mr Old again interviewed, with further enquiries into allegations of damage to his property and accusations of government stores being stolen. Investigation made but no trace of such things happening. Mr Old would not produce any evidence.
15 February 1940
CSM Henderson B Company attached to RAF Usworth for duties as Instructor to RAF personnel.
Commanding Officer interviewed Captain B M Williams and Acting Captain T Young reference their respective ranks.
Company Commanders’ weekly conference held at Battalion HQ.
17 February 1940
Captain B M Williams assumes command of D Company and Acting Captain Young reverts to Lieutenant at own request.
19 February 1940
Commanding Officer visited A Company Headquarters at Croxdale and afterwards held Orderly Room at C Company Headquarters at Birtley.
21 February 1940
Commanding Officer inspected B Company Headquarters, Drill Hall, Gateshead and the Company’s Vulnerable Points.
22 February 1940
District Court Martial of Sergeant John Thomas held at the Drill Hall, Burt Terrace, Gateshead at 10am.
Company Commanders’ weekly conference.
Brigadier Shears (Area Commander) and Major Booth both called at Battalion HQ and both remained about an hour.
23 February 1940
Commanding Officer held Orderly Room at B Company HQ and afterwards visited certain V.Ps. manned by this Company.
Colonel Henderson called at Headquarters in the morning.
27 February 1940
District Court Martial – Sentence on Sergeant John Thomas was promulgated at Burt Terrace – “Reduced to the Ranks”.
Brigadier Kirkup (70th Brigade) called, also Captain Stopford, Welfare Officer for D Company’s area. Discussed various aspects of welfare work. First Bi-weekly conference of 2nds in Command held at Headquarters – Major R Boys-Stones presided.
28 February 1940
Commanding Officer inspected A Company Headquarters and V.Ps.
29 February 1940
Strength of Battalion – 39 Officers, 992 Other Ranks.
