507th Field Company, Royal Engineers War Diary January 1940
1 January 1940 – Sunderland
09:00 hours. Parades at Ashbrooke and Pallion.
12:00 hours. L/Sgt Howard left to make a reconnaissance of damage at Jarvis Playing Fields.
15:20 hours. L/Sgt Howard returns.
Normal Training Programme throughout day.
17:30 hours. Company Parade and Lecture by Major K. McK. Cameron.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
2 January 1940 – Sunderland
08:00 hours. Parade at Ashbrooke.
08:30 hours. Company Parade at Pallion.
Normal Training Programme throughout day.
09:30 hours. L/Sgt Howard left with Party to carry out plumbing at Dykelands Road for Royal Artillery.
11:00 hours. L/Sgt Howard returns.
11:30 hours. Major Cameron left for HQ.
14:00 hours. L/Sgt Howard left for Jarvis Playing Fields, Jarrow with materials.
16:00 hours. L/Sgt Howard returns.
P.S.I. Turner reported for duty.
17:30 hours. Company Parade and dismissal.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
3 January 1940 – Sunderland
08:00 hours. Parade at Ashbrooke.
08:30 hours. Parade at Pallion.
Normal Training Programme throughout day.
11:00 hours. Parties left for works at Seaburn and Jarrow.
17:30 hours. Company Parade and dismissal.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
4 January 1940 – Sunderland
08:00 hours. Parade at Ashbrooke. P.T. Parade at Pallion.
08:30 hours. Company Parade at Pallion.
Normal Training Programme throughout day.
13:30 hours. Colonel Kennedy called at Ashbrooke and afterwards inspected training at Pallion.
15:15 hours. Colonel Kennedy left Pallion together with Major Cameron who is proceeding on secret journey.
16:00 hours. L/Sgt Howard reported completion of works at Jarrow and Seaburn.
17:30 hours. Company Parade and dismissal.
21:45 hours. Company Parade for night operation.
5 January 1940 – Sunderland
03:30 hours. Operation complete and Lights Out.
09:30 hours. Parades at Ashbrooke and Pallion.
Normal Training Programme throughout day.
17:30 hours. Company Parade and dismissal.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
6 January 1940 – Sunderland
08:00 hours. Parade at Ashbrooke. P.T. Parade at Pallion.
08:30 hours. Parade at Pallion.
Normal Training Programme throughout day.
11:30 hours. Colonel Kennedy arrived at Pallion with 2/Lt Dodds who is attached to the Company for seven days.
14:00 hours. Colonel Kennedy left after lunch.
17:30 hours. Company Parade and dismissal.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
7 January 1940 – Sunderland
09:00 hours. R.Cs. paraded and marched to St Joseph’s Church for Mass.
09:30 hours. Company parades and inspections at Ashbrooke and Pallion.
Non-Conformists attended service at Sorley St Congregational Church.
10:30 hours. Company attended Service at Bishopwearmouth Church.
13:00 hours. Company dismissal.
16:00 hours. Captain Gordon Smith arrived and is attached to this Company for seven days.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
8 January 1940 – Sunderland
08:00 hours. Parade at Ashbrooke and P.T. Parade at Pallion.
08:45 hours. Company Parade at Pallion.
44 men left for seven days’ leave.
Normal Training Programme throughout day.
11:30 hours. Colonel Kennedy arrived at Pallion.
Court of Enquiry (President Captain G.P. Smith and members 2/Lts Miller and Dodds) held in connection with accident involving Dvr Miller R.
14:00 hours. Colonel Kennedy left Sunderland.
14:45 hours. Captain Gordon R. Smith left for Newcastle.
15:00 hours.Lecture on Anti-Gas by 2/Lt T.K. Davidson.
17:30 hours. Company Parade and dismissal.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
9 January 1940 – Sunderland
08:00 hours. Parade at Ashbrooke and P.T. Parade at Pallion.
08:45 hours. Company Parade at Pallion.
Normal Training Programme throughout day.
09:00 hours. Captain Gordon R. Smith and 2/Lt Miller left for Atkinson’s Brickworks re demolition.
10:30 hours. Captain Smith and 2/Lt Miller returned.
11:00 hours. Captain Smith left for Jarrow and Newcastle.
2/Lt Dodds left for Newcastle.
13:00 hours. 2/Lt Dodds returned.
17:30 hours. Company Parade and dismissal.
18:00 hours. Captain Smith returned.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
10 January 1940 – Sunderland
08:00 hours. Parade at Ashbrooke and P.T. Parade at Pallion.
08:45 Hours. Company Parade at Pallion.
Normal Training Programme throughout day.
10:00 hours. 2/Lt Dodds left for Jarrow.
11:30 hours. Adjutant left to meet Colonel Kennedy at Jarrow.
18:00 hours. 2/Lt Dodds returned.
17:30 hours. Company Parade and dismissal.
19:30 hours. Adjutant returned.
21:45 hours. Company Parade for night operations.
22:00 hours. Night works commenced.
11 January 1940 – Sunderland
02:00 hours. Night works finished.
03:00 hours. Lights Out.
10:00 hours. Company Parade.
Normal Training Programme throughout day.
10:30 hours. 2/Lt Dodds left for Jarrow.
Adjutant and 2/Lt Miller left to see billets at South Shields.
13:00 hours. 2/Lt Dodds returned.
13:30 hours. Adjutant and 2/Lt Miller returned.
14:00 hours. 2/Lt Dodds left for Jarrow.
15:00 hours. 2/Lt Miller with NCOs. left to see chimney at Fencehouses. Adjutant left for Jarrow.
15:30 hours. 2/Lt Dodds returned.
17:30 hours. Company Parade and dismissal.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
12 January 1940 – Sunderland
08:00 hours. Parade at Ashbrooke and P.T. Parade at Pallion.
08:45 hours. Company Parade at Pallion.
Cpl Harris and Party left for works at South Shields for 10th Bn DLI.
25 Sappers under P.S.I. Turner left for Jarrow miniature range.
Party of senior NCOs. and Sgt Ward left to demolish chimney at Fencehouses.
10:30 hours. 2/Lt Dodds left for Fencehouses.
Adjutant left for South Shields, Jarrow and HQ.
Normal Training Programme throughout day.
17:00 hours. Cpl Harris and Party returned.
Party returned from Jarrow.
17:30 hours. Company Parade and dismissal.
17:45 hours. Party returned from Fencehouses.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
13 January 1940 – Sunderland
08:00 hours. Parade at Ashbrooke and P.T. Parade at Pallion.
08:45 hours. Company Parade at Pallion.
Cpl Harris and Party left for works at South Shields.
Normal Training Programme throughout day.
11:30 hours. Adjutant left for South Shields and HQ.
14:30 hours. 2/Lt Miller left to meet Colonel Bramwell at Chester Road Schools.
15:15 hours. 2/Lt Miller returned.
17:30 hours. Company Parade and dismissal.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
14 January 1940 – Sunderland
09:15 hours. Parades at Ashbrooke and Pallion.
09:30 hours. R.Cs. paraded and marched to St Joseph’s Church for Mass.
Non-Conformists paraded and marched to Sorley St Congregational Church.
10:00 hours. Company Parade and inspection.
13:00 hours. Major K. McK. Cameron returned to this Company from secret journey.
15:30 hours. Captain Blench returned from M.T. Course at Chatham.
NCOs. reported back from Course at Chatham.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
15 January 1940 – Sunderland
08:00 hours. Parade at Ashbrooke Terrace and P.T. at Pallion.
08:10 hours. Cpl Harris and Party left for South Shields for work for 10th DLI.
09:30 hours. Captain Smith left for 23rd Division HQ C.R.E.
14:20 hours. Major K. McK. Cameron left for 23rd Divisional HQ C.R.E. to act as Colonel.
15:30 hours. 2/Lt Miller left for his seven days’ leave.
17:05 hours. Cpl Harris and Party returned to Company HQ.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
16 January 1940 – Sunderland
08:00 hours. Parade at Ashbrooke Terrace and P.T. at Pallion.
08:20 hours. Cpl Harris with Party left for work at 10 DLI South Shields.
16:05 hours. Cpl Harris returned with Party to Company HQ.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
17 January 1940 – Sunderland
08:00 hours. Parade at Ashbrooke Terrace and P.T. at Pallion.
08:45 hours. Company Parade.
09:00 hours. Cpl Harris and Party left for work at 10 DLI South Shields.
09:30 hours. L/Sgt Howard left for reconnaissance at 11 DLI Chester –le-Street and 70 Brigade HQ.
09:40 hours. Cpl Everett left for Chester Road Schools for Tyneside Scottish 12th DLI.
11:35 hours. Cpl Everett returned to Company HQ.
15:40 hours. L/Sgt Howard returned to Company HQ.
16:55 hours. Cpl Harris returned with Party.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
18 January 1940 – Sunderland
08:00 hours. Normal Training Programme began. Parade at Ashbrooke.
08:30 hours. Company Parade at Pallion.
10:30 hours. L/Sgt Howard left with Party for Chester-le-Street to deal with frozen pipes at 70 Infantry Brigade HQ.
17:00 hours. L/Sgt Howard returned with his Party from Chester-le-Street.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
19 January 1940 – Sunderland
08:00 hours. Parade at Ashbrooke.
08:30 hours. Parade at Pallion and Training Programme commenced.
10:00 hours. Cpl Harris left for Mowbray Road Schools, Westoe and Baring Street Schools to do work for 10th DLI.
10:00 hours. L/Sgt Howard went to Chester-le-Street and completed his job for 70th Infantry Brigade HQ.
Parties started later today owing to lack of transport.
17:00 hours. L/Sgt Howard returned with Party. Cpl Harris returned with Party.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
20 January 1940 – Sunderland
08:00 hours. Parade at Ashbrooke billets.
08:30 hours. Parade at Pallion and Normal Training Programme commenced.
09:00 hours. Cpl Harris left with Parties for Westoe Schools, Baring Schools and Mowbray Schools.
L/Sgt Howard left for Chester-le-Street with Party to thaw out pipes at 70th Infantry Brigade HQ.
17:00 hours. Capl Harris returned with his Parties.
17:00 hours. L/Sgt Howard and Party returned.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
21 January 1940 – Sunderland
09:30 hours. Company Parade and inspection.
10:00 hours Church Parade in Drill Hall.
14:00 hours. 2/Lt Edgar and 2/Lt Shirrefs returned from F.E. Course at S.M.E. Chatham.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
22 January 1940 – Sunderland
08:00 hours. Parade at Ashbrooke billets.
08:30 hours. Parade at Pallion and Normal Training Programme commenced.
09:00 hours. Party left for South Shields.
09:45 Hours. Party left for Chester-le-Street (70 Infantry Brigade HQ).
10:00 hours. Mr Shirrefs left for recce at South Shields with Colonel Robinson.
16:15 hours. Chester-le-Street Party returned.
17:00 hours. South Shields Party returned.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
23 January 1940 – Sunderland
08:00 hours. Parade at Ashbrooke billets.
08:30 hours. Parade at Pallion and Normal Training Programme began.
10:00 hours. Mr Edgar left to make recce of damaged roundabout at Teams Trading Estate. Two Sappers went to Victoria Road Schools Gateshead.
11:30 hours. Mr Edgar returned.
12:00 hours. Major Cameron and Mr Shirrefs left to meet C.R.E. and Adjutant at South Shields.
16:00 hours. Mr Shirrefs returned from South Shields.
18:30 hours. Major Cameron returned.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
24 January 1940 – Sunderland
08:00 hours. Parade at Ashbrooke billets.
08:30 hours. Parade at Pallion and Normal Training Programme began.
09:30 hours. Party of Sappers left for Chester Road Schools Sunderland.
09:40 hours. 24 Sappers left for South Shields (Westoe Road Schools).
10:00 hours. Mr Shirrefs left for South Shields to inspect job at Westoe Road Schools.
12:00 hours. Mr Shirrefs returned from South Shields.
15:15 hours. Chester Road Party returned.
16:30 hours. South Shields Party returned.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
25 January 1940 – Sunderland
08:00 hours. Parade at Ashbrooke billets.
08:30 hours. Parade at Pallion and Normal Training Programme began.
08:35 hours. 24 Sappers left for South Shields (Westoe Road Schools).
10:00 hours. Mr Shirrefs left for South Shields to inspect the job at Westoe Road Schools.
12:00 hours. Mr Shirrefs returned.
16:00 hours. South Shields Party returned.
22:00 hours. Company Parade at Pallion.
22:15 hours. Night work began (digging Anti-Tank ditch).
24:00 hours Night work ended.
00:30 hours. Lights Out.
26 January 1940 – Sunderland
08:00 hours. Parade at Ashbrooke billets.
08:30 hours. Parade at Pallion. Normal Training Programme began.
09:45 hours. 30 Sappers went to South Shields for job at Westoe Road Schools.
10:00 hours. Mr Shirrefs left for Westoe Road Schools, South Shields.
13:00 hours. Mr Shirrefs returned from South Shields.
14:30 hours. Major Cameron and Captain Blench left to inspect job at Westoe Road, South Shields.
15:30 hours. Mr Shirrefs, Mr Miller and Mr Edgar left for HQ Barras Bridge to attend lecture by Major Cameron.
17:00 hours. South Shields Party returned.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
27 January 1940 – Sunderland
08:30 hours. Normal Training Programme commenced.
09:30 hours. Party left for South Shields.
09:45 hours. Mr Shirrefs left for South Shields and HQ Newcastle to attend Court of Enquiry.
09:45 hours. Party left for Gateshead.
16:50 hours. Party returned from South Shields and Party returned from Gateshead.
16:30 hours. Mr Shirrefs returned from HQ Newcastle.
Major Cameron today opened account at Barclays Bank entitled 507 Field Company Knitting Fund with Mrs Nicholson as Treasurer of that fund.
28 January 1940 – Sunderland
09:30 hours. Company Church Parade at Pallion.
09:30 hours. Party left for South Shields (Westoe Road Schools).
10:15 hours. Company Parade and inspection.
15:30 hours. Party returned from South Shields.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
29 January 1940 – Sunderland
08:00 hours. Parade at Ashbrooke.
08:30 hours. Parade at Pallion and Training Programme commenced.
09:00 hours. Party left for South Shields.
09:35 hours. Party left for Gateshead.
10:20 hours. Public Air raid Warning sounded. L.M.G. crews posted.
10:45 hours. All Clear sounded.
11:00 hours. Mr Shirrefs left for South Shields.
13:00 hours. Mr Shirrefs returned.
16:30 hours. South Shields and Gateshead Parties returned.
Today Major Cameron was at Wooler attending a Court of Enquiry.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
30 January 1940 – Sunderland
08:00 hours. Parade at Ashbrooke.
08:30 hours. Parade at Pallion and Normal Training Programme commenced.
09:15 hours. Parties left for South Shields and Gateshead.
15:40 hours. Colonel Hedley-White came to see Major Cameron and saw Captain Blench. Major Cameron is still at Wooler today.
15:45 hours. Mr Shirrefs left for South Shields.
16:50 hours. Parties returned from South Shields and Gateshead.
20:30 hours. Major Cameron returned from Wooler.
31 January 1940 – Sunderland
08:00 hours. Parade at Ashbrooke billets.
08:30 hours. Parade at Pallion and Normal Training Programme commenced for those left in after Parties had been extracted for works outside.
09:00 hours. Parties left for work at South Shields (Westoe Road) and Gateshead (Briarmede).
10:30 hours. Major Cameron departed on leave.
14:00 hours. Mr Shirrefs left for South Shields (Westoe Road).
New lorry arrived.
15:00 hours. Mr Shirrefs returned.
16:30 hours. Parties returned from Gateshead and South Shields.
19:30 hours. Captain Blench and Mr Edgar and 5 NCOs. left for HQ Newcastle.
23:00 hours. Lights Out.
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