12th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry, War Diary August 1939

There is no specific War Diary page for the 12th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry, for August 1939, but it is sensible to take note of what is included in the War Diary for the "parent formation", namely the first-line 9th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry.

22nd August 1939

At its HQ in Burt Terrace, Gateshead, the 9th Battalion received a telegram at 19:00 hours containing the codeword "Hastings". The receipt of the codeword was acknowledged. (This is taken to refer to the need for the unit to make preparations for mobilisation, though that is not stated directly in the War Diary. Interestingly, this is the only unit within the scope of the research, as far as can be seen, which commenced making entries in its War Diary in August 1939.)

23rd August 1939

At 09:17 hours a telegram containing the codeword "Byng less para 3" was received and acknowledged.

The Battalion Adjutant called a conference for 14:30 hours at which the Mobilisation Scheme was examined and details were agreed as regards the manning of the telephone in Battalion HQ.

At 17:00 hours the further codeword "Allenby" was received by telegram, and acknowledged. As a result of this codeword notification, all leave was cancelled and the duplicate unit (the 12th Battalion, in this case) was informed.

At 18:00 hours key personnel of the National Defence Company were called out by means of Despatch Rider notification and men from that unit began to report to Battalion HQ.

Arrangements for cash to be available to pay the men were made via the Northern Command Cashier.

At 22:15 hours a message (serial 52) was received from the 8th Battalion HQ to the effect that the National Defence Company were not yet in a position to undertake the guarding of vulnerable points and that this would need to be covered from 13:00 hours by 12th Battalion.

24th August 1939

At 00:44 hours a telephone message was received from Brigade HQ reference SY/400 - dated 22nd August - forwarding the details of a letter from 50th Division of 21st August, stating that the Instructions contained in War Office General 9032 (SD 6) were to be put in force immediately. (It is not at all clear why this message - which clearly was of importance, though the detail of the contents is not known, was not telephoned in much sooner.)

At 07:30 hours National Defence Company personnel began to report in.

At 18:25 hours a message was received from 151st Brigade (the first-line Brigade) to the effect that the National Defence Company were being called out for the defence of vulnerable points, and that relevant stores were being despatched from Catterick. It was emphasised that NO members of the Territorial Army were to be called out.

25th August 1939

At 07:30 hours "A" Company of the 9th Battalion reported that key personnel were at Chopwell. (In the light of the message the previous day from 151st Brigade these men may have "jumped the gun".)

At 19:00 hours the National Defence Company mounted guards over the vulnerable points - reporting that they were in position at their Laverick Hall post by 21:45 hours.

28th August 1939

Telegrams were received containing the codewords "Allenby" and "Plumer".

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