508th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers, War Diary February 1940

1 February 1940 Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne.

08:30 hours. Company Parade. Training continued.

2 February 1940

08:30 hours. Company Parade. Training continued. 14:00 hours. Pay Parade. Week-end leave for 25% of Company.

3 February 1940

07:30 hours. Gargling Parade. 08:30 hours. Company Parade. Inspection and re-allotment of billets. 14:00 hours. Company dismissed until 23:00 hours.

4 February 1940

09:30 hours. Church Parade under 2/Lt Edgar. 11:00 hours. Company dismissed until 23:00 hours. 2/Lt Scott granted sick leave.

5 February 1940

07:30 hours. Gargling Parade. 08:30 hours. Company training continued. Working Parties to; Gosforth Park 9th RNF, Haymarket Billet of 49th R.T.C. to prepare pits for mock up tank turrets.

6 February 1940

08:30 hours. Company training continued. Working Parties to; Gosforth Park 9th RNF, Haymarket Billet of 49th R.T.C. to prepare pits for mock up tank turrets.

7 February 1940

08:30 hours. Company training continued. Working Parties to; Gosforth Park 9th RNF, Haymarket Billet of 49th R.T.C. to prepare pits for mock up tank turrets.

8 February 1940

08:30 hours. Company training continued. Working Parties to; Gosforth Park 9th RNF, Haymarket Billet of 49th R.T.C. to prepare pits for mock up tank turrets.

9 February 1940

08:30 hours. Company training continued. Working Parties to; Gosforth Park 9th RNF, Haymarket Billet of 49th R.T.C. to prepare pits for mock up tank turrets. 14:00 hours. Pay Parade. Captain Byers confined to billets with illness.

10 February 1940

07:30 hours. Gargling Parade. 08:30 hours. I.E. Parade. 11:00 hours. Route March under Sgt Moffatt. 14:00 hours. Company dismissed until 23:00 hours.

11 February 1940

09:30 hours. Church Parade under 2/Lts Wood and Edgar. 11:00 hours. Company dismissed until 23:00 hours.

12 February 1940

07:30 hours. Gargling Parade. 08:30 hours. Company Parade. Training continued. Working Party to; Gosforth Park 9th RNF, Haymarket Billet of 49th R.T.C. 2/Lt Scott returned to duty.

13 February 1940

07:30 hours. Gargling Parade. 08:30 hours. Company Parade. Training continued.

14 February 1940

07:30 hours. Gargling Parade. 08:30 hours. Company Parade. Training continued.

15 February 1940

07:30 hours. Gargling Parade. 08:30 hours. Company Parade. Training continued. Captain Byers granted sick leave.

16 February 1940

07:30 hours. Gargling Parade. 08:30 hours. Company Parade. Training continued. 14:00 hours. Pay Parade. 14:30 hours. Visit and inspection by Col. Garforth D.C.E.

17 February 1940

08:30 hours. Company Parade. Works and training continued. Working parties to Gosforth Park 9th RNF and Haymarket billets. 2/Lt Edgar transferred to 507th Field Company, R.E. Sunderland and 2/Lt Bligh H.K.H. transferred from 507th Field Company R.E. to 508th Field Park Company R.E. 25% of Company on weekend leave. 14:00 hours. Company dismissed till 23:00 hours.

18 February 1940

09:30 hours. Church Parade under 2/Lt Bligh. 11:00 hours. Company dismissed until 23:00 hours.

19 February 1940

08:30 hours. Company Parade. Training continued. 67 men sent to 508 sub-unit, Jarrow, leaving Field Park Company to War Establishment less 59 drivers i/c. Working parties to; 151st Field Ambulance Brigade, Hutton Terrace, to repair burst pipe, 9th RNF Gosforth Park, fitting of heating stoves in billets, 49th RTC Haymarket fitting sand table and shooting mechanism for training. 20:00 hours. Captain Byers returned to duty.

20 February 1940

08:30 hours. Company Parade. Training continued. Visit and inspection by General Sir Walter Kirke G.O.C. Home Forces and Colonel Gullard, A.A. and Q.M.G. Very satisfactory. Working parties to 9th RNF and 49th RTC as above.

21 February 1940

08:30 hours. Company training continued, working parties as above.

22 February 1940

08:30 hours. Company training continued, working parties as above. B/M Crosse reported for duty.

23 February 1940

08:30 hours. Company training continued, working parties as above. 11:00 hours. Pay Parade.

24 February 1940

08:30 hours. Company Parade and training continued. 25% of Company on weekend leave. 14:00 hours. Company dismissed until 23:00 hours.

25 February 1940

09:30 hours. Church Parade under Sgt Jenkins. 11:00 hours. Company dismissed until 23:00 hours.

26 February 1940

08:30 hours. Company Parade. Training continued. Working parties to; Gosforth Park, 9th RNF, Haymarket, 49th RTC, Denton Road Schools, 8th RNF.

27 February 1940

08:30 hours. Company Parade. Training continued. Working parties to; Gosforth Park, 9th RNF, Haymarket, 49th RTC, Denton Road Schools, 8th RNF. Anti-Tank defences laid out in tactical exercise on Town Moor under 2/Lts Bligh and Davison.

28 February 1940

08:30 hours. Company Parade. Training continued. Working parties to; Gosforth Park, 9th RNF, Haymarket, 49th RTC, Denton Road Schools, 8th RNF. Anti-Tank defences laid out in tactical exercise on Town Moor under 2/Lts Bligh and Davison.

29 February 1940

08:30 hours. Company Parade. Training continued. Working parties to; Gosforth Park, 9th RNF, Haymarket, 49th RTC, Denton Road Schools, 8th RNF. Anti-Tank defences laid out in tactical exercise on Town Moor under 2/Lts Bligh and Davison.

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