Divisional Commander Royal Artillery 23rd (Northumbrian) Division 1939

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.