War Diary of the 13th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry, September 1939.
1 September 1939 – Chester-le-Street.
Group Headquarters moved to Mains House, Chester-le-Street, sharing it with 70th Infantry Brigade. Change was reported to Area at 20:45 hours. The Commanding Officer in the afternoon visited Hawthorn Leslies.
3 September 1939
WAR DECLARED.
By this date every Vulnerable Point allotted to this Group was manned – seventeen in all – namely:-
V P 41 Hawthorn Leslies, Hebburn, by B Company.
V P 42 Palmers Works, Jarrow, by B Company.
V P 43 Mercantile Dry Dock, Jarrow, by B Company.
V P 44 Brighams and Cowans, South Shields, by A Company.
V P 45 Tyne Dock Engineering Company Ltd, by A Company.
V P 46 Grays, West Hartlepool, by E Company.
V P 56 RAF USWORTH, by E Company.
V P 59 Royal Ordnance Factory, Birtley, by C Company.
V P 60 A.M.B.G. Finchale, by C Company.
V P 61 Mobilisation Store, East Boldon, by B Company.
V P 62 Ammunition Dump, NORTON, by E Company.
V P 63 Croxdale Viaduct, by D Company.
V P 64 Belmont Viaduct, by D Company.
V P 65 Victoria Bridge, by B Company.
V P 66 Sunderland North Tunnel, by B Company.
V P 67 Sunderland South Tunnel, by B Company.
V P 68 I.C.I. Billingham, by A Company.
The geographical distribution of Companies was not ideal but was governed at this stage by recruiting returns. No TA or other troops were therefore required to assist in what was considered NDC duties.
4 September 1939
The C.O. visited Sunderland Tunnels and Company HQ at Gateshead.
6 September 1939
The C.O. visited Finchale Vulnerable Point.
7 September 1939
The C.O. visited Victoria Bridge and Sunderland Tunnels.
8 September 1939
The C.O. visited BIRTLEY.
10 September 1939
From now on until the end of the month there was little of interest to report. The guards continued to function satisfactorily and where mounted at Works and Shipyards established in practically every case cordial relations between themselves and both workpeople and management. The latter on many occasions expressed their satisfaction with their behaviour and stated that their presence was a source of confidence to them.
The weather was good but the Commanding Officer realised that it was only a question of time, and possibly a short time, before the weather broke. He continued to press most urgently on Area and on 70th Infantry Brigade and 23rd Division necessity of their immediate provision of better accommodation and Hutting at the various Vulnerable Points. This question of Hutting was easily the most serious facing the NDC and very little was done to remedy matters until late in October. All this month and throughout October the Group remained on subsistence allowance and ration allowance. The men invariably expressed the greatest satisfaction with the food and feeding arrangements generally made by the Company Commanders.
Pay for the men was satisfactory but in the early days there was considerable difficulty with separation allowances chiefly owing to incorrect completion of forms. By the end of September with few exceptions this was put right. Officers’ pay gave some difficulty again owing to some misunderstanding in completion of A.F.E. 644 but by October 10th every Officer had received his pay.
12 September 1939
C.O. visited BIRTLEY.
19 September 1939
C.O. visited V.Ps. at Birtley, Victoria Bridge, Usworth, Sunderland, East Boldon, South Shields, Palmers and Hawthorns.
22 September 1939
C.O. visited proposed new Vulnerable Point at Dunston Power Station.
23 September 1939
C.O. visited Billingham.
25 September 1939
C.O. visited Finchale with Brigadier.
29 September 1939
C.O. visited Billingham.
30 September 1939
General situation at Vulnerable Points. Nothing of interest to report.
Daily report as at 18:00 hours.
E Company – 6 Officers, 209 Other Ranks.
F Company – 6 Officers, 179 Other Ranks.
G Company - % Officers (one on sick leave), 137 Other Ranks.
H Company – 2 Officers, 65 Other Ranks.
M Company – 5 Officers, 145 Other Ranks.
HQ Company – 3 Officers, 5 Other Ranks.
Total – 27 Officers, 740 Other Ranks.
