70th Infantry Brigade War Diary September 1939 - Revision history

70bgadmin at 15:01, 18 June 2011

2011-06-18T15:01:26Z

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	PoW Camp, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windlestone_Hall Windlestone Hall].		PoW Camp, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windlestone_Hall Windlestone Hall].

			To contact the author by e-mail with any queries, or to send information - [mailto:70brigade@newmp.org.uk click here].

70bgadmin at 09:03, 13 June 2011

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	'''3rd September 1939'''		'''3rd September 1939'''

	War with Germany declared. ''A list of the officers in each of the Battalions was prepared and is attached to the War Diary at Appendix 2. This list was compared with the database of names in each Battalion already compiled and arrangements were made to include those officers not already on those databases.''		War with Germany declared. ''A list of the officers in each of the Battalions was prepared and is attached to the War Diary at Appendix 2. This list was compared with the database of names in each Battalion I had already compiled and arrangements were made to include those officers not already on those databases. Interestingly, when the comparison was carried out, only two out of the ten officers listed as being with the 10th Battalion were already on the database, eight out of twenty-four officers from the 11th Battalion were missing from their database, whereas only one of the 12th Battalion officers had not already been identified from the Tyneside Scottish sources. This lack of direct matches, particularly for 10th Battalion, may be down to the subsequent movement of officers between second and first-line Battalions - this will be checked as Battalion War Diaries are processed.''

	'''4th September 1939'''		'''4th September 1939'''

70bgadmin at 14:14, 12 June 2011

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	'''3rd September 1939'''		'''3rd September 1939'''

	War with Germany declared. A list of the officers in each of the Battalions was prepared and is attached to the War Diary at Appendix 2. This list was compared with the database of names in each Battalion and arrangements made to include those officers not already on those databases.		War with Germany declared. ''A list of the officers in each of the Battalions was prepared and is attached to the War Diary at Appendix 2. This list was compared with the database of names in each Battalion already compiled and arrangements were made to include those officers not already on those databases.''

	'''4th September 1939'''		'''4th September 1939'''
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	'''21st September 1939'''		'''21st September 1939'''

	A Signalling course opened at BRANCEPETH DEPOT for 2 officers and 16 other ranks from each Battalion.		A Signalling course opened at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brancepeth BRANCEPETH] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brancepeth_Castle DEPOT] for 2 officers and 16 other ranks from each Battalion.

	'''25th September 1939'''		'''25th September 1939'''
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	The Brigade experienced various administrative difficulties as it had, as yet, no manuals, forms, or trained clerks. No rations were available so a subsistence allowance was paid to the men at a rate of up to three shillings per head.		The Brigade experienced various administrative difficulties as it had, as yet, no manuals, forms, or trained clerks. No rations were available so a subsistence allowance was paid to the men at a rate of up to three shillings per head.

	On embodiment of the Territorial Army, all TA recruiting had been suspended. Recruits, instead of joining directly, were to be supplied by the Zone Recruiting Officer. During this period - in an attempt to avoid some of the confusion and inefficiencies experienced during the First World War - an essential trades “comb-out” exercise was carried out under War Office instructions dated 4th September 1939 to identify and release back to civilian life tradesmen considered more valuable in their pre-War occupations.		On embodiment of the Territorial Army, all TA recruiting had been suspended. Recruits, instead of joining directly, were to be supplied by the Zone Recruiting Officer and, of course, conscription had been introduced on the outbreak of War. During this period - in an attempt to avoid some of the confusion and inefficiencies experienced during the First World War - an essential trades “comb-out” exercise was carried out under War Office instructions dated 4th September 1939 to identify and release back to civilian life tradesmen considered more valuable in their pre-War occupations.

	Appendix 3 of the War Diary for September lists the vulnerable points within the Brigade's area of operational responsibility as follows:-		Appendix 3 of the War Diary for September lists the vulnerable points within the Brigade's area of operational responsibility as follows:-

	Shipyards:-		Shipyards:-

	Hawthorn Leslie [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebburn Hebburn], Palmers Works and the Mercantile Dry Docks [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarrow Jarrow] Brigham and Cowan and the Tyne Dock Engineering Company [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Shields South Shields].		[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawthorn_Leslie_and_Company Hawthorn Leslie] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebburn Hebburn], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmers_Shipbuilding_and_Iron_Company_Limited Palmers Works] and the Mercantile Dry Docks [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarrow Jarrow] Brigham and Cowan and the Tyne Dock Engineering Company [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Shields South Shields].

	The Power Station at Dunston.		The Power Station at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunston,_Tyne_and_Wear Dunston].

	RAF Stations:-		RAF Stations:-

70bgadmin at 13:56, 12 June 2011

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	During September, owing to the lack of accommodation, all men not needed for essential duties continued to live at home.		During September, owing to the lack of accommodation, all men not needed for essential duties continued to live at home.

	The Brigade ~~had~~ administrative difficulties as it had, as yet, no manuals, forms, or trained clerks. No rations were available so a subsistence allowance was paid to the men at a rate of up to three shillings per head.		The Brigade experienced various administrative difficulties as it had, as yet, no manuals, forms, or trained clerks. No rations were available so a subsistence allowance was paid to the men at a rate of up to three shillings per head.

	On embodiment of the Territorial Army, all TA recruiting had been suspended. Recruits, instead of joining directly, were to be supplied by the Zone Recruiting Officer. During this period - in an attempt to avoid some of the confusion and inefficiencies experienced during the First World War - an essential trades “comb-out” exercise was carried out under War Office instructions dated 4th September 1939 to identify and release back to civilian life tradesmen considered more valuable in their pre-War occupations.		On embodiment of the Territorial Army, all TA recruiting had been suspended. Recruits, instead of joining directly, were to be supplied by the Zone Recruiting Officer. During this period - in an attempt to avoid some of the confusion and inefficiencies experienced during the First World War - an essential trades “comb-out” exercise was carried out under War Office instructions dated 4th September 1939 to identify and release back to civilian life tradesmen considered more valuable in their pre-War occupations.
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	Shipyards:-		Shipyards:-

	Hawthorn Leslie [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebburn Hebburn], Palmers Works and the Mercantile Dry Docks [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarrow Jarrow] Brigham and Cowan and the Tyne Dock ~~ENgineering~~ Company [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Shields South Shields],		Hawthorn Leslie [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebburn Hebburn], Palmers Works and the Mercantile Dry Docks [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarrow Jarrow] Brigham and Cowan and the Tyne Dock Engineering Company [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Shields South Shields].

			The Power Station at Dunston.

	RAF Stations:-		RAF Stations:-

70bgadmin at 13:53, 12 June 2011

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	Shipyards:-		Shipyards:-

	[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebburn Hebburn], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarrow Jarrow] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Shields South Shields],		Hawthorn Leslie [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebburn Hebburn], Palmers Works and the Mercantile Dry Docks [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarrow Jarrow] Brigham and Cowan and the Tyne Dock ENgineering Company [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Shields South Shields],

	RAF Stations:-		RAF Stations:-
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	Ammunition Dumps:-		Ammunition Dumps:-

	Finchale, Boldon~~, Stockton~~.		Finchale, Boldon.

	Railway viaducts and tunnels (including Croxdale and Sunderland ~~Bridge~~).		Equipment Ammunition Magazine:-

			Stockton (Carville - Tees).

			Railway viaducts and tunnels (including Croxdale, Belmont and Victoria viaducts and the North and South Tunnels at Sunderland).

	ICI Billingham.		ICI Billingham.

	PoW Camp, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windlestone_Hall Windlestone Hall].		PoW Camp, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windlestone_Hall Windlestone Hall].

70bgadmin at 13:42, 12 June 2011

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	'''3rd September 1939'''		'''3rd September 1939'''

	War with Germany declared.		War with Germany declared. A list of the officers in each of the Battalions was prepared and is attached to the War Diary at Appendix 2. This list was compared with the database of names in each Battalion and arrangements made to include those officers not already on those databases.

	'''4th September 1939'''		'''4th September 1939'''
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	'''6th September 1939'''		'''6th September 1939'''

	The 11th Battalion changed its HQ to “The Hawthorns” Picktree Lane, CHESTER-LE-STREET.		The 11th Battalion changed its HQ to “The Hawthorns” Picktree Lane, CHESTER-LE-STREET. A note of the various Headquarters locations and their contact details was prepared by the Staff Captain and attached to the War Diary at Appendix 1.

	The Brigadier inspected the guard at SUNDERLAND DOCKS.		The Brigadier inspected the guard at SUNDERLAND DOCKS.

70bgadmin at 17:10, 11 June 2011

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	'''13th September 1939'''		'''13th September 1939'''

	A Tactical Exercise Without Troops (TEWT) was held for the junior officers of the 11th and 12th Battalions at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambton_Castle LAMBTON PARK], tutored by Capt Ricketts of the DLI Infantry Training Centre (ITC).		A Tactical Exercise Without Troops (TEWT) was held for the junior officers of the 11th and 12th Battalions at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambton_Castle LAMBTON PARK], tutored by Capt A.H.G.Ricketts of the DLI Infantry Training Centre (ITC).

	'''14th September 1939'''		'''14th September 1939'''
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	'''25th September 1939'''		'''25th September 1939'''

	The first Infantry Leaders course for NCOs opened at CHESTER-LE-STREET.		The first Infantry Leaders course for NCOs opened at CHESTER-LE-STREET under the direction of Major Oxley, 12th Battalion.

	Maj Gen Herbert visited the 10th Battalion at SPENNYMOOR.		Maj Gen Herbert visited the 10th Battalion at SPENNYMOOR.
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	'''27th/28th September 1939'''		'''27th/28th September 1939'''

	All three Battalions of the Brigade were visited by Capt Dodds and Lt Osborne of 23rd Division Royal Engineers to discuss the units of the Brigade. ''(It is assumed that the purpose of this briefing visit was to bring the Infantrymen up to date on what support they could expect from the Royal Engineers Field and Field Park Companies of the Division).''		All three Battalions of the Brigade were visited by Capt Dodds and Lt Osborne of 23rd Division Royal Engineers to discuss the situation regarding Point Air Defence for the units of the Brigade.

	'''29th September 1939'''		'''29th September 1939'''
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	During September, owing to the lack of accommodation, all men not needed for essential duties continued to live at home.		During September, owing to the lack of accommodation, all men not needed for essential duties continued to live at home.

	The Brigade had administrative difficulties as it had no manuals, forms, or trained clerks. No rations were available so a subsistence allowance was paid to the men at a rate of up to three shillings per head.		The Brigade had administrative difficulties as it had, as yet, no manuals, forms, or trained clerks. No rations were available so a subsistence allowance was paid to the men at a rate of up to three shillings per head.

	On embodiment of the Territorial Army, all TA recruiting had been suspended. Recruits, instead of joining directly, were to be supplied by the Zone Recruiting Officer. During this period - n an attempt to avoid some of the confusion and inefficiencies experienced during the First World War, an essential trades “comb-out” exercise was carried out under instructions dated 4th September 1939 to identify and release back to civilian life tradesmen considered more valuable in their pre-War occupations.		On embodiment of the Territorial Army, all TA recruiting had been suspended. Recruits, instead of joining directly, were to be supplied by the Zone Recruiting Officer. During this period - in an attempt to avoid some of the confusion and inefficiencies experienced during the First World War - an essential trades “comb-out” exercise was carried out under War Office instructions dated 4th September 1939 to identify and release back to civilian life tradesmen considered more valuable in their pre-War occupations.

	Appendix 3 of the War Diary for September lists the vulnerable points within the Brigade's area of operational responsibility as follows:-		Appendix 3 of the War Diary for September lists the vulnerable points within the Brigade's area of operational responsibility as follows:-
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	Finchale, Boldon, Stockton.		Finchale, Boldon, Stockton.

	Railway viaducts and tunnels.		Railway viaducts and tunnels (including Croxdale and Sunderland Bridge).

	ICI Billingham.		ICI Billingham.

	PoW Camp, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windlestone_Hall Windlestone Hall].		PoW Camp, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windlestone_Hall Windlestone Hall].

70bgadmin at 16:58, 11 June 2011

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	'''29th September 1939'''		'''29th September 1939'''

	Brigadier Kirkup visited ICI BILLINGHAM to reconnoitre vulnerable points together with Lt Col Stafford of the National Defence Corps.		Brigadier Kirkup visited [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Chemical_Industries ICI BILLINGHAM] to reconnoitre vulnerable points together with Lt Col Stafford of the National Defence Corps.

	'''30th September 1939'''		'''30th September 1939'''
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	The Brigade, and indeed the Division was still under the administration of 50th Division.		The Brigade, and indeed the Division was still under the administration of 50th Division.

	~~Owing~~ to lack of accommodation all men not needed for essential duties continued to live at home.		During September, owing to the lack of accommodation, all men not needed for essential duties continued to live at home.

	No manuals, forms, trained clerks. No rations available so subsistence paid up to 3 shillings per head.		The Brigade had administrative difficulties as it had no manuals, forms, or trained clerks. No rations were available so a subsistence allowance was paid to the men at a rate of up to three shillings per head.

	On embodiment, all TA recruiting suspended. Recruits to be supplied by Zone Recruiting Officer. ~~Essential~~ trades “comb-out” carried out under instructions dated 4th September 1939 ~~for essential~~ tradesmen.		On embodiment of the Territorial Army, all TA recruiting had been suspended. Recruits, instead of joining directly, were to be supplied by the Zone Recruiting Officer. During this period - n an attempt to avoid some of the confusion and inefficiencies experienced during the First World War, an essential trades “comb-out” exercise was carried out under instructions dated 4th September 1939 to identify and release back to civilian life tradesmen considered more valuable in their pre-War occupations.

	Appendix 3 of the War Diary for September lists the vulnerable points within the ~~Brigades~~ area of operational responsibility as :-		Appendix 3 of the War Diary for September lists the vulnerable points within the Brigade's area of operational responsibility as follows:-

	Shipyards:-		Shipyards:-

	Hebburn, Jarrow, South Shields,		[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebburn Hebburn], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarrow Jarrow] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Shields South Shields],

	RAF Stations:-		RAF Stations:-

	Usworth, Ouston		Usworth, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Ouston Ouston]

	Royal Ordnance Factory, Birtley		[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Ordnance_Factory Royal Ordnance Factory, Birtley]

	Ammunition Dumps:-		Ammunition Dumps:-
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	Railway viaducts and tunnels.		Railway viaducts and tunnels.

	ICI.		ICI Billingham.

	PoW Camp Windlestone Hall.		PoW Camp, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windlestone_Hall Windlestone Hall].

70bgadmin at 16:36, 11 June 2011

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	'''18th September 1939'''		'''18th September 1939'''

	A TEWT was held at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croxdale CROXDALE] ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunderland_Bridge,_County_Durham SUNDERLAND BRIDGE]) for 11th and 12th Battalion officers, again tutored by Capt Ricketts of the DLI ITC.		A TEWT was held at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croxdale CROXDALE] ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunderland_Bridge,_County_Durham SUNDERLAND BRIDGE][http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&channel=s&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=Hmh&q=Sunderland+Bridge+England&um=1&ie=UTF-8&split=0&ei=2JvISb29BoGTsAbKnqy2Ag&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=title See here for a map]) for 11th and 12th Battalion officers, again tutored by Capt Ricketts of the DLI ITC.

	A Conference of 50th Division, 70th Brigade and 151st Brigade Commanders was held at Brigade HQ.		A Conference of 50th Division, 70th Brigade and 151st Brigade Commanders was held at Brigade HQ.

70bgadmin at 16:32, 11 June 2011

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	'''18th September 1939'''		'''18th September 1939'''

	A TEWT was held at CROXDALE (SUNDERLAND BRIDGE) for 11th and 12th Battalion officers, again tutored by Capt Ricketts of the DLI ITC.		A TEWT was held at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croxdale CROXDALE] ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunderland_Bridge,_County_Durham SUNDERLAND BRIDGE]) for 11th and 12th Battalion officers, again tutored by Capt Ricketts of the DLI ITC.

	A Conference of 50th Division, 70th Brigade and 151st Brigade Commanders was held at Brigade HQ.		A Conference of 50th Division, 70th Brigade and 151st Brigade Commanders was held at Brigade HQ.