70th Infantry Brigade War Diary September 1939

1st September 1939

Embodiment of the Territorial Army was ordered.

70th Brigade HQ was established at Mains House (junction of West Lane and Front Street) Chester-le-Street. The initial Brigade officers were:-

Brigade Commander - Brigadier Philip Kirkup DSO OBE MC TD (formerly Commander of 8th DLI in World War One).

Brigade Major - Capt Fillingham.

Staff Captain - Lieut Trail.

Intelligence Officer - 2/Lieut Catto.

HQ of the 41st (Durham) National Defence Corps was also set up initially at Mains House - Lt Col Stafford commanding and Maj. Boys-Stones as Adjutant.

10th Battalion had its HQ at Bishop Auckland.

11th Battalion had its HQ at Durham, with Companies at Birtley, Chester-le-Street, Stanley and Houghton-le-Spring.

12th Battalion had its HQ at Gateshead, with detachments at Blaydon and Chopwell.

War declared. Embodiment completed – 10th Bn HQ SPENNYMOOR with 3 Coys and 1 Coy at CROOK. 11th Bn as at 1st Sept. 12th (Tyneside Scottish) HQ Victoria Rd Schools, Team, GATESHEAD. Detachment at BLAYDON. 11th Bn – guard at USWORTH RAF Station for ground defence. 12th Bn – guard of 3 Officers and 48 other ranks over ammunition at SUNDERLAND DOCKS. 11th Bn Changed HQ to “The Hawthorns” Picktree Lane, CHESTER-LE-STREET. Brigadier inspected guard at SUNDERLAND. Brigade responsible for P.A.D. of Drill Halls of 70 and 151 Brigades. SUNDERLAND guard withdrawn. National Defence Corps came under orders of 70 Brigade.

During 8th – 12th Sept inter-Battalion transfers of officers and NCOs left 70 Brigade very depleted. TEWT held for junior officers at LAMBTON PARK. 11th and 12th Bns tutored by Capt Ricketts of the DLI ITC. Bn CO’s Conference. Maj Gen Martell – Commander of 50th Division – visited Brigade HQ. 2/Lt MacNicol took over as Intelligence Officer from 2/Lt Catto. TEWT at CROXDALE (SUNDERLAND BRIDGE). Capt Ricketts, DLI ITC for 11th and 12th Bn officers. Conference of 50th Div, 70 Brigade and 151 Brigade Commanders at Brigade HQ. Signalling course opened at BRANCEPETH DEPOT, 2 officers and 16 other ranks from each Battalion. First Infantry Leaders course for NCOs opened at CHESTER-LE-STREET. Maj Gen Herbert visited 10th Bn at SPENNYMOOR. Battalions visited by Capt Dodds and Lt Osborne, 23rd Division R.E. to discuss the units of the Brigade.

Brigadier visited ICI BILLINGHAM to reconnoitre vulnerable points with Lt Col Stafford of National Defence Corps. Still under the administration of 50th Division.