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

1 November 1939 – Low Fell, County Durham.

Strength of Battalion.

Battalion HQ – 3 Officers, 8 Other Ranks.

A Company – 6 Officers, 209 Other Ranks.

B Company – 6 Officers, 168 Other Ranks.

C Company – 6 Officers, 161 Other Ranks.

D Company – 2 Officers, 103 Other Ranks.

E Company – 5 Officers, 145 Other Ranks.

Totals – 28 Officers, 794 Other Ranks.

Sick 39.

Awaiting discharge 52.

Disposition

Battalion HQ – Saltwell Vale House, Low Fell, County Durham.

A Company – HQ East Boldon 2 Platoons – Billingham attached E Company V P 45. 1 Platoon – Sunderland Tunnels V Ps. 43 & 44. 1 Platoon – South Shields V P 49 & 50. 1 Platoon – East Boldon V P 33.

B Company HQ – Gladstone Terrace, Gateshead.

1 Platoon – Hawthorns V P 47. 1 Platoon – Jarrow V P 46 & 48. 1 Platoon - Victoria Bridge V P 42.

C Company HQ – Brook Terrace, Birtley.

2 Platoons – Usworth RAF V P 34. 2 Platoons – Birtley V P 30.

D Company HQ – Drill Hall, Bishop Auckland.

1 Platoon – Croxdale V P 40. 1 Platoon – Belmont V P 41. 1 Platoon – Finchale V P 32.

E Company HQ – ICI Billingham V P 45.

3 Platoons – ICI Billingham V P 45. 1 Platoon – Hartlepool V P 51. 1 Platoon – Norton V P 51.

2 November 1939

B Company (Lieut Coleby and 64 Other Ranks) took over Dunston Power Station V P from 11th DLI.

Lt. Robinson and RQMS Kraft took lorries to Catterick and got I blanket per man (making total of 4 per man) and Gas Cape per man.

Brigadier Kirkup O.B.E., D.S.O., M.C. Commanding 70th Infantry Brigade visited Battalion HQ.

4 November 1939

Roland Jennings M.P. and Colonel Grimshaw V.C., Chief Recruiting Officer, County Durham visited Battalion HQ to discuss recruiting with C.O.

First Hut at Victoria Bridge nearly completed!

6 November 1939

C.O. took Colonel Sir Frank Simpson, Bart, Chairman and Col A Henderson C.M.G., T.D., Secretary TA and AF Association, County Durham round various V.Ps., Finchale, Usworth, Victoria, Hawthorns. The men evidently appreciate such visits.

10 November 1939

Army Council Instruction 742 of 1939, just received, announced change of name of Battalion from 41 Group N.D.C. to 13th (H.D.) Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry.

13 November 1939

Colonel Jocel (DADOS Catterick) visited Battalion HQ and was fully informed of deficiencies etc. – poor greatcoats – great difficulty in obtaining outsize clothing (indented in August – not yet received).

p.m. G.o.C. in C. General Sir William Bartholomew G.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., A.D.C. honoured Battalion HQ with a visit and saw the C.O. who explained Hutting difficulties.

14 November 1939

C.O. and Brigade Commander 70th Infantry Brigade visited the railway V.Ps. to explore possibility of reducing guards by use of wire. No result.

20 November 1939

C.O. accompanied Major General S C Gepp M.G.A. Northern Command, Colonel Shears, Area Commander and Captain Myles V.C. Northern Command to Croxdale and Belmont. Lunch at Battalion HQ.

21 November 1939

C.O. visited Norton and Billingham with Sir Frank Simpson and Colonel Henderson.

22 November 1939

C.O. and 2nd in Command attended lecture by Brigade Commander at Chester-le-Street.

23 November 1939

47 recruits taken in during the week.

24/25 November 1939

C.O. and 2nd in Command and Captain Thomson visited by night Dunston, Palmers, Mercantile, Brigham and Cowans, Usworth, Belmont – 22:00 hours 24th to 04:00 hours 25th. On whole satisfactory except Belmont where sentries found absent.

27/28 November 1939

C.O. and ADMS 23rd Division (Colonel Weeks) visited all V.Ps. The latter later issued a good report dealing with accommodation, sanitary, cooking etc. The first visit of posts of any member of Divisional Staff.

30 November 1939

Strength of Battalion –

27 Officers 900 Other Ranks.