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

1 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

Company training continued.

Company dismissed 14:00 hours to 23:00 hours. P.S.I. Wright reported for duty.

2 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

Company training continued.

3 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

Company training continued. Plumber to Hutton Terrace to repair burst pipes 151st Field Ambulance Brigade, RAMC.

4 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

Company training continued.

5 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

Company training continued. Plumber to Gosforth Park for burst pipes 9th R.N.Fs.

6 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

I.E. Parade. Route March with “aircraft action” and gas drill under 2/Lt Scott. Working party to Plaza, Tynemouth to dismantle and collect ablution benches and latrine 9th R.N.Fs.

Plumber to Gosforth Park for burst pipes, 9th R.N.Fs.

Company dismissed from 14:00 hours to 23:00 hours.

3rd leave contingent reported back for duty 23:00 hours.

7 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

Check parade. Company dismissed from 10:00 hours to 23:00 hours.

8 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

Company training continued. Working Party to Wylam, 8th R.N.Fs. for plumbing ablution benches. Plumber to Gosforth Park, 9th R.N.Fs. Last contingent start Christmas Leave.

9 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

Company training continued. Working Party to Prudhoe, 8th R.N.Fs. plumbing ablution benches. Plumber to Gosforth Park, 9th R.N.Fs. 6 Officers, 69 Other Ranks No 3 Training Battalion R.E. arrived for Demolition exercise at Marley Hill Colliery.

10 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

Company training continued. 12 men to Marley Hill Colliery to watch demolition exercise.

Plumber to Gosforth Park.

Captain Byers starts 4 days leave.

22:00 hours. Parade for night operations.

11 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

01:00 hours. Return of Company from night operations.

08:30 hours. Company parade. CREs Training Programme continued.

10:00 hours. Enemy aircraft action at South Shields and coast.

14:00 hours. Company dismissed until 23:00 hours, having been on night operations.

12 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

08:30 hours. Company parade – training continued.

14:00 hours. Pay parade.

13 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

08:30 hours. I.E. Parade. L/Cpl Edwards to Alnwick to collect picks and shovels.

11:00 hours. Route March under Sgt Moffatt.

14:00 hours. Sgts Urwin and Moffatt and 41 Other Ranks to St Helens, Wesley Hall, Low Fell to salvage P.A.D. stores.

Remainder of Company dismissed until 23:00 hours.

14 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

09:30 hours. Church Parade under 2/Lt D.R.Wood.

11:00 hours. Company dismissed until 23:00 hours.

16:00 hours. Captain Byers returned from leave.

15 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

08:30 hours. Company training continued.

Working Party under L/Sgt Day to Low Fell for P.A.D. salvage.

Working Party under 2/Lt Wood to St George’s Drill Hall, 43rd R.T.C.

16 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

06:00 hours. Fire in Officers’ Mess. Dealt with by local Fire Brigade.

First snowfall of the year.

08:30 hours. Company training continued.

Working Parties to Low Fell and St George’s Drill Hall.

17 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

08:30 hours. Company training continued.

Working Party to Low Fell to complete salvage of P.A.D. material.

18 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

08:30 hours. Company training continued.

11:00 hours. Gargling parade due to epidemic of sore throats and influenza.

15:00 hours. Bath parade.

17:00 hours. Company dismissed.

19 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

07:30 hours. Gargling parade.

08:30 hours. Company training continued.

Plumber to St Andrew’s Schools, 49th R.T.C. to fit trap on ablution bench drains.

Recce by 2/Lt Wood to Blind School, Elswick Road, for 6th Survey Regiment.

14:00 hours. Pay Parade.

15:00 hours. Bath parade for balance of personnel on duty 18/1/1940.

17:00 hours. Company dismissed.

20 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

07:30 hours. Gargling parade.

08:30 hours. I.E. Parade.

11:00 hours. Route March under Sgt Moffatt and Sgt Urwin.

14:00 hours. Company Parade. King’s Regulations read to the Company by Sgt Major.

15:30 hours. Company dismissed until 23:00 hours.

21 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

09:30 hours. Church Parade under CSM.

11:00 hours. Company dismissed until 23:00 hours.

22 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

07:30 hours. Gargling parade.

08:30 hours. Company Parade, training continued.

2/Lt Edgar E. returned to duty from Fieldworks Course S.M.E. Chatham.

23 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

07:30 hours. Gargling parade.

08:30 hours. Company parade – training continued.

15:30 hours. 72 personnel, including 2/Lt Scott, inoculated against Typhoid.

24 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

07:30 hours. Gargling parade.

08:30 hours. Company parade – training continued. 71 Other Ranks excused duty.

Plumber to Gosforth Park, 9th R.N.Fs. to repair burst pipes.

25 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

07:30 hours. Gargling parade.

08:30 hours. Company parade. 71 Other Ranks excused duty until 14:00 hours. Company training continued.

Plumber to Gosforth Park, 9th R.N.Fs.

26 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

07:30 hours. Gargling parade.

08:30 hours. Company parade – training continued. Plumber and carpenter to Gosforth Park, 9th R.N.Fs.

14:00 hours. Pay parade. 25% of Company on weekend leave.

27 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

07:30 hours. Gargling parade.

08:30 hours. Company parade – training continued.

14:00 hours. Company dismissed until 23:00 hours.

28 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

09:30 hours. Church Parade under 2/Lt Edgar E.

11:00 hours. Company dismissed until 23:00 hours.

29 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

07:30 hours. Gargling parade.

08:30 hours. Company parade. Training continued.

Working Party Gosforth Park, 9th R.N.Fs. plumbing and moving Cookhouse.

30 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall

07:30 hours. Gargling parade.

08:30 hours. Company Parade. Training continued.

Working Party Gosforth Park, 9th R.N.Fs. plumbing and moving Cookhouse.

31 January 1940 Barras Bridge Drill Hall.

07:30 hours. Gargling parade.

08:30 hours. Company Parade. Training continued.

Working Party Gosforth Park, 9th R.N.Fs. plumbing and moving Cookhouse.

To contact the author by e-mail with any queries, or to send information - click here.