AQ Branch 23rd (Northumbrian) Division February 1940. - Revision history

70bgadmin at 10:43, 31 May 2012

2012-05-31T10:43:43Z

70bgadmin at 10:44, 5 May 2012

2012-05-05T10:44:24Z

70bgadmin at 10:36, 5 May 2012

2012-05-05T10:36:36Z

70bgadmin at 14:54, 18 June 2011

2011-06-18T14:54:04Z

70bgadmin at 10:59, 14 June 2011

2011-06-14T10:59:53Z

70bgadmin at 11:35, 3 June 2011

2011-06-03T11:35:25Z

70bgadmin at 11:33, 3 June 2011

2011-06-03T11:33:31Z

70bgadmin at 11:25, 3 June 2011

2011-06-03T11:25:21Z

70bgadmin at 11:21, 3 June 2011

2011-06-03T11:21:56Z

70bgadmin at 11:20, 3 June 2011

2011-06-03T11:20:40Z

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 Six Infantry Battalions (5th East Yorks, 6th and 7th Green Howards, 10th and 11th Durham Light Infantry, and 1st Tyneside Scottish - though this unit was still being shown in some documents in its former name of 12th Durham Light Infantry, despite having transferred to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Watch_(Royal_Highland_Regiment) Black Watch] on 1st February 1940)
-One Motorcycle Battalion of Infantry (8th [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Northumberland_Fusiliers Royal Northumberland Fusiliers)
+One Motorcycle Battalion of Infantry (8th [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Northumberland_Fusiliers Royal Northumberland Fusiliers])
 Two [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Army_Medical_Corps RAMC Field Ambulances] (186th and 187th)

@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 One Motorcycle Battalion of Infantry (8th [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Northumberland_Fusiliers Royal Northumberland Fusiliers)
-Two RAMC Field Ambulances (186th and 187th)
+Two [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Army_Medical_Corps RAMC Field Ambulances] (186th and 187th)
 In addition, there were the following attached units:-
@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 One Machine-Gun Battalion of Infantry (9th Royal Northumberland Fusiliers)
-One Royal Armoured Corps Regiment (2nd East Riding Yeomanry)
+One Royal Armoured Corps Regiment (2nd [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Riding_Yeomanry East Riding Yeomanry])
-Two Royal Tank Regiments (43rd and 49th)
+Two [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Tank_Regiment Royal Tank Regiments] (43rd and 49th)
 One Army Tank Signals Brigade (25th)

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 The table compared the present strength of the six Battalions, allows for around 55 men per Battalion held for Brigade and Divisional duties, identifies the number of "immatures" as at 1st September 1940 (who would not be able to go overseas), notes the number of unfit men, and estimates the number needing to be transferred to Pioneer Battalions.  Making those allowances, and comparing the adjusted strength against the War Establishment total of 878, produced a shortfall for each Battalion as follows:-
-th East Yorkshires   540
+th [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Yorkshire_Regiment East Yorkshires]   540
 th Green Howards     366
-th Green Howards     423
+th [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Howards Green Howards]     423
 th D L I            428
@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 '''Appendix B – Equipment Return'''
-This Appendix is only the second item remaining in the AQ Branch War Diary File for this particular month.  In addition, there is no filed material for this Branch for the period September 1939 to January 1940 - this may be to do with the Division being administered initally by 50th Division, its parent formation.
+This Appendix is only the second item remaining in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staff_(military)#Division_level AQ Branch] War Diary File for this particular month.  In addition, there is no filed material for this Branch for the period September 1939 to January 1940 - this may be to do with the Division being administered initally by 50th Division, its parent formation.
 Rather than prepare a complete table of the manuscript summary of the Equipment Return included within the War Diary, key features have been extracted and set out below.
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 Three Divisional Signal Companies (Nos 1, 2 and 3)
-Six Infantry Battalions (5th East Yorks, 6th and 7th Green Howards, 10th and 11th Durham Light Infantry, and 1st Tyneside Scottish - though this unit was still being shown in some documents in its former name of 12th Durham Light Infantry, despite having transferred to the Black Watch on 1st February 1940)
+Six Infantry Battalions (5th East Yorks, 6th and 7th Green Howards, 10th and 11th Durham Light Infantry, and 1st Tyneside Scottish - though this unit was still being shown in some documents in its former name of 12th Durham Light Infantry, despite having transferred to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Watch_(Royal_Highland_Regiment) Black Watch] on 1st February 1940)
-One Motorcycle Battalion of Infantry (8th Royal Northumberland Fusiliers)
+One Motorcycle Battalion of Infantry (8th [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Northumberland_Fusiliers Royal Northumberland Fusiliers)
 Two RAMC Field Ambulances (186th and 187th)

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:54, 18 June 2011
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	Again, references will be found in later War Diaries to the disposal and acquisition of vehicles from War Office sources – many at almost the last minute before unit movements took place.		Again, references will be found in later War Diaries to the disposal and acquisition of vehicles from War Office sources – many at almost the last minute before unit movements took place.
		+
		+
		+	To contact the author by e-mail with any queries, or to send information - [mailto:70brigade@newmp.org.uk click here].

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:59, 14 June 2011
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	Rounds .45 NO scale 1,044 NIL in stock		Rounds .45 NO scale 1,044 NIL in stock
		+
		+	''(The details of the Small Arms to which links are made above, are provided through the help and courtesy of the Historic Arms Research Centre, whose kind co-operation and assistance is hereby formally acknowledged. Particular thanks are expressed to Mr Terence Smith for his advice and help).''

	Webbing and anti-gas equipment showed a very mixed picture. Each Infantry Battalion was supposed to hold 779 Respirators, both container and facepiece, and a Haversack for each respirator. 1st Tyneside Scottish was best equipped, with 625 of each. 11 DLI had 170 containers, but only 70 each of facepieces and Haversacks, while 10 DLI had 721 containers, but only 91 each of facepieces and Haversacks.		Webbing and anti-gas equipment showed a very mixed picture. Each Infantry Battalion was supposed to hold 779 Respirators, both container and facepiece, and a Haversack for each respirator. 1st Tyneside Scottish was best equipped, with 625 of each. 11 DLI had 170 containers, but only 70 each of facepieces and Haversacks, while 10 DLI had 721 containers, but only 91 each of facepieces and Haversacks.

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 The position with regard to transport and fighting vehicles was no better.
-Each Battalion was expected to have 7 Bren Carriers, and each had only one.
+Each Battalion was expected to have 7 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Carrier Bren Carriers], and each had only one.
 Each needed 8 G.S. 8 cwt trucks, and had none.

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 Steel helmets in the Brigade almost exactly matched the anti-gas cape numbers, although the Division as a whole had an overall surplus of over 1900.
-Webbing equipment was an extremely mixed picture with three patterns in use – 1908 pattern (familiar from the First World War as the standard set), Leather equipment – which again may have been the First World War 1914 pattern – and the then current 1937 pattern webbing set.   Each Battalion should have had 752 full sets of 1937 pattern.
+Webbing equipment was an extremely mixed picture with three patterns in use – [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Army_uniform_and_equipment_in_World_War_I#1908_Pattern_webbing 1908 pattern] (familiar from the First World War as the standard set), Leather equipment – which again may have been the First World War 1914 pattern – and the then current [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1937_Pattern_Web_Equipment 1937 pattern] webbing set.   Each Battalion should have had 752 full sets of 1937 pattern.
 DLI had only 61 sets of 1937 pattern, plus 581 leather sets.  11 DLI had only 66 sets of 1908 pattern, leaving one wondering how they carried ammunition, water and so on in training, whereas 1 Tyneside Scottish was again best equipped Battalion in the Brigade with a total 691 of the 1937 pattern sets.  Overall, the Division was 3,855 webbing sets short.

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 The Divisional Artillery was short of everything – particularly guns, gun equipment (such as sights) and transport, although they did have some “Drill purpose” Howitzers in the 124th Regiment for training use, and nine out of the required twelve Howitzers in 125th Regiment.  It is not surprising that the artillery units were given Infantry tasks in this early part of the War, as they did not possess any of their 24 Field Guns.
-Small Arms showed a mixed picture.  In respect of the Division’s units (other than those attached) there was in fact a surplus of .303 rifles – 457 more than the required 5,427 – roughly half of the surplus being in 70 Brigade, but in all other weapons in this category deficiencies were seen as follows:-
+Small Arms showed a mixed picture.  In respect of the Division’s units (other than those attached) there was in fact a surplus of [http://www.rifleman.org.uk/The_Rifle_Short_Magazine_Lee-Enfield.htm .303 rifles] – 457 more than the required 5,427 – roughly half of the surplus being in 70 Brigade, but in all other weapons in this category deficiencies were seen as follows:-
      Item          Required          In Stock          70 Brigade Position

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    Pistol .45        NIL               103                    32 in stock
-   Mortar 2"          72               NIL                    36 short
+   [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-inch_mortar Mortar 2"]          72               NIL                    36 short
    [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordnance_ML_3_inch_Mortar Mortar 3"]          12               NIL                     6 short

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    Mortar 2"          72               NIL                    36 short
-   Mortar 3"          12               NIL                     6 short
+   [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordnance_ML_3_inch_Mortar Mortar 3"]          12               NIL                     6 short
   Ammunition;