70th Infantry Brigade War Diary February 1940.

70 Brigade War Diary February 1940

1st February 1940

The 12th Battalion officially became 1st Tyneside Scottish, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) under the authority of Army Order No. 260 of 1939, with Lt-Col Swinburne as Officer Commanding. The O.C. had received a telegram of congratulation from H.M. Queen Elizabeth (later H.M. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother) who was then the Colonel in Chief of the Regiment.

7th February 1940

Brigadier Kirkup visited Divisional HQ in connection with the Training Programme.

Great excitement was generated by a “scare,” reported in a telegram relating to “gas” balloons released by enemy ships over the East Coast. Respirators were advised to be worn and the Police were to be advised if any were discovered. The reassuring news, reported as such in the evening newspaper, was that while there were indeed balloons, these turned out to be meteorological balloons released as part of an experiment from our own ships.

9th February 1940

A Divisional conference was held at 23rd Division HQ in Darlington on completing War Establishment and Training Policy – the Brigadier and Brigade Major attended from 70 Brigade.

10th February 1940

Units were told at a Brigade conference held at Chester-le-Street what personnel they would need to supply to staff Division and Brigade HQs.

11th February 1940

Lt-Col P.B. Robinson T.D. vacated the command of 10th Bn DLI and proceeded on sick leave. Lt Col C.D. Marley took over as CO of the 10th Battalion, under the authority of a War Office teleprinter message, with effect from 11th February 1940.

12th February 1940

The Brigadier placed on record his appreciation of the splendid conduct of Ptes J.F. Mackie and L Graden of 11th DLI in assisting the Civil Police to arrest a man for being drunk and disorderly in Birtley on Sunday 4th February 1940.

14th February 1940

1st Tyneside Scottish was, unusually, given special permission by the War Office to recruit directly to the Battalion – on the basis that recruits must be Scots, or of Scots descent, and come from in or about Tyneside. Sons of soldiers who had served in the Tyneside Scottish during the 1914-1918 War were to be given preference.

15th February 1940

23rd Division hosted a visit by some attached American officers, 70th Brigade had a Major Greenwell attached and Captain Bryan Conrad was attached to Commander, Royal Artillery at Fenham Barracks. Major Greenwell visited Sunderland, South Shields, Lambton Park, and both the NCOs and Motor Transport Schools then underway. Both Officers met to observe Battalion training at the 1st Tyneside Scottish and then had tea at Brigade HQ.

17th February 1940

Lt Col C.D. Marley M.B.E., T.D. assumed command of the Brigade for two days in the Brigadier’s absence on leave.

20th February 1940

The Brigade hosted a visit from General Sir Walter Kirke G.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., A.D.C. Commander-in-Chief Home Forces. He met the Brigadier at South Shields and visited 10th DLI then went on to Chester Road Schools and visited B and C Companies of 11th DLI.

21st February 1940

The C-in-C Home Forces visited 1st Tyneside Scottish in Gateshead and then visited the 11th DLI Company at the Chester-le-Street Drill Hall and finally Brigade HQ in Chester-le-Street.

22nd February 1940

At 10:50 hours an Air-Raid Warning Yellow was again experienced at South Shields, machine-gun fire was heard near the mouth of the Tyne and the All-Clear was sounded at 12:54 hours.

23rd February 1940

The Officer and three Other Ranks from both the 10th and 11th Battalions returned from their visit to the B.E.F. in France.

24th February 1940

The Brigade Commander took great pleasure in placing on record a further compliment from the Civil Authorities in respect of the conduct of a member of the Brigade. Sgt J.W. Holland of 11th DLI had entered a blazing house in Chester-le-Street on 21st February and rescued three young children. At the inquest on a fourth child, who had been in another room and subsequently died, H.M Coroner Mr W. M. Patterson stated….”Not only was he courageous but he was devoted in his own courage. He went into what was almost a flaming cauldron and stayed until he was satisfied there was no human life in the Room.” Sgt Holland suffered injuries to his hand and arm.

28th February 1940

Capt McCoy of 10th DLI gave a lecture to the Divisional School at Scotch Corner on his “Cook’s Tour” of France.

On instructions from the War Office Volunteers were called for to man anti-aircraft machine guns to defend merchant shipping from hostile aircraft. At 14:00 hours teams of two men were identified, each armed with a Bren Gun, 1,000 rounds – of which half were tracer – and a Motley AA Mounting.

1st Tyneside Scottish provided teams for SS Hotton and SS Holmwood at Sunderland, 10th DLI defended SS Flashlight at Seaham Harbour, and 11th DLI mounted crews on SS Stelling and SS Abba Hill, also at Sunderland.

29th February 1940

The Brigade Commander and Officers of the Brigade attended a demonstration by the NCOs Class.

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