Divisional Commander Royal Artillery 23rd (Northumbrian) Division 1939/1940.
War Diary September 1939
This consists of a single page, dated September 1st 1939, written from Newcastle and was prepared in manuscript by the Commander Royal Artillery personally.
124 Field Regiment Royal Artillery located in Bath Lane Schools and subsequently Headquarters and 288 Battery moved to Cowgate Schools, an excellent billet.
125 Field Regiment Royal Artillery were badly accommodated in the Drill Hall at Sunderland and, after difficulties, were moved to the Drill Hall, Dykelands Road and to Municipal Camp adjoining where they were very comfortably housed.
On 1st September Commander Royal Artillery reported to 50th Division Headquarters Royal Artillery to take over and form the duplicate Headquarters. He found that there was nothing to take over and nowhere to live. No arrangements whatsoever had been made and by personal "scrounging" he started Headquarters with one room in Fenham Barracks, one Officer - 2nd Lieutenant WILLIS - 124 Field Regiment, and one clerk. The situation at Headquarters was chaotic. There were no books, no stationery, no lights and no furniture. Nevertheless the Army Machine from above came into action and there was a flood of paper bullets.
War Diary November 1939.
4th November 1939.
The Commander Royal Artillery met the Brigade Major of 70 Brigade and discussed the part that the Artillery Regiments might play in the 23rd Division Civil Defence Scheme - so far they have received no orders.
War Diary April 1940.
19th April 1940.
Headquarters of the 23rd Division and the Infantry of the Division went overseas. The Commander Royal Artillery was to command the details that were left, including a Battalion of "immatures" under Major F. TAYLOR at Chester-le-Street, Royal Army Medical Corps under the Assistant Director of Medical Services and the Signals. Infantry personnel on courses were attached to the Artillery Regiments (presumably for "pay and rations").
War Diary May 1940.
10th May 1940.
Code-word "JULIUS" was received from Northern Command. All units were informed and personnel were recalled from leave. (It will be recalled that this is the date of the start of the German invasion of France and the Low Countries.)
12:20 hours.
All personnel were placed at six hours notice to move. The Commander provided two Officers and fifty men for guard duties at Usworth Airfield. All personnel were confined to Barracks and there was a stand-to at both dawn and dusk.
