508th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers, War Diary October 1939
1 October 1939 Briermede, Low Fell.
09:45 hours. Church Parade at Wesley Billets conducted by Rev Pritchard. Attended by CRE.
Company dismissed afterwards for the day.
Company put on RASC Rations. St Helen’s Billets used as Mess.
2 – 5 October 1939 Briermede, Low Fell.
Company continues Training Programme.
Demolitions Class of A.R.P and Police personnel under Major Burton started.
On 5 October, reconnaissance by 2/Lt Edgar at Spennymoor and Chester-le-Street for sanitary accommodation for 10th DLI.
6 October 1939 Briermede, Low Fell.
Company continues Training Programme. Reconnaissance by 2/Lt Scott for 9th Royal Northumberland Fusiliers for sanitary and cooking accommodation at Morpeth, Ashington, Amble, Alnwick and Berwick.
7 October 1939 Briermede, Low Fell.
Company continues CRE’s Training Programme. Route March to Birtley.
8 October 1939 Briermede, Low Fell.
10:00 hours. Church Parade at Wesley Billets. Company dismissed afterwards.
9 October 1939 Briermede, Low Fell.
Company continues Training Programme.
10 October 1939 Briermede, Low Fell.
Company continues Training Programme.
Demolition of Colliery chimney at Stanley, attended by 2/Lt Scott and 3 NCOs.
14:00 hours. Visit by C.R.E.
14:15 hours. Medical Board for CSM Wake at ADMS Hutton Terrace, attended by O.C. and M.O.
11 October 1939 Briermede, Low Fell.
Company continues Training Programme.
12 October 1939 Briermede, Low Fell.
08:30 hours. Company continues Training Programme.
10:30 hours. Received 2 ton truck from RASC.
Reconnaissance by O.C. at Morpeth.
19:30 hours. Concert in St Helen’s Billets.
13 October 1939 Briermede, Low Fell.
Company continues Training Programme.
Working Party under Sgt Jenkins with two trucks proceeded to Kenton to collect stores.
14 October 1939 Briermede, Low Fell.
Company completed CREs second Training Programme. Company dismissed at 16:30 hours until 08:30 hours on 16th.
15 October 1939 Briermede, Low Fell.
No parade except for one Section constructing Cookhouse at Pendower School.
16 October 1939 Briermede, Low Fell.
Company started CREs third Training Programme for 16/10/1939 to 21/10/1939.
Sections under Sgt Urwin at Dean House, Ellison Place. Reconstructing shelters for the Admiralty.
Sgt Jenkins at RAF Depot, Kenton. Draining shelters.
Cpl Hannant at Pendower School constructing Cookhouse.
17 October 1939 Briermede, Low Fell.
Company continues Training Programme except for those Parties at Works as yesterday.
13:55 hours. Air Raid Warning received.
15:35 hours. All Clear sounded.
14:00 hours. Captain Byers accompanied CRE on a reconnaissance for Camp structures for 7th R.N.F. at Gosforth Park.
18 October 1939 Briermede, Low Fell.
Company continues Training Programme. Sections continue Works at Ellison Place and Pendower Schools.
19 October 1939 Briermede, Low Fell.
Company continues Training Programme. Sections continue Works at Ellison Place and Pendower Schools.
20 October 1939 Briermede, Low Fell.
One Section on Works at Ellison Place and one at Gosforth Park constructing Cookhouses for 7th RNFs.
Remainder of Company continued Training Programme.
20:00 hours. Order received from HQ for Company to move to Drill Hall, Barras Bridge, one Section continued Works at Gosforth Park, Drill Hall and Billets at Lovaine Place taken over from 232nd and 235th Field Companies, RE.
22 October 1939 Briermede, Low Fell.
12:00 hours. Company proceeds to Barras Bridge Drill hall and move into Billets at Lovaine Place.
23 October 1939 Barras Bridge, Newcastle.
One Section continues Works at Gosforth Park. Remainder of Company continues training.
24 – 26 October 1939 Barras Bridge, Newcastle.
One Section continues Works at Gosforth Park. Remainder of Company continue Training Programme.
19:00 hours 26 October. Dance held in Jesmond Parish Hall by permission of Canon Gackland.
27 October 1939 Barras Bridge, Newcastle.
09:30 hours. Route March to Kenton.
10:00 hours. Visit by ADMS (Colonel Weeks).
10:15 hours. Visit by DCE (Colonel Appleyard).
Company continues training in the afternoon.
28 October 1939 Barras Bridge, Newcastle.
10:00 hours. Visit by G.o.C. (General Herbert).
Company continues training. One Section at Gosforth Park.
29 October 1939 Barras Bridge, Newcastle.
05:20 hours. Order from Divisional HQ. Company confined to Barracks.
10:00 hours. Church Parade. Company proceeds to Jesmond Parish Church.
14:00 hours. Company repairs trenches at Billets.
30 October 1939 Barras Bridge, Newcastle.
One Section at Wesley Billets, Gateshead dismantling and collecting P.A.D. stores.
One Section at Gosforth Park.
Parties at:-
Ellison Place repairing Admiralty shelters.
P.T. Centre, Barrack Road, on P.A.D.
Remainder of Company go to Northumberland Road Baths and then continue training.
18:00 hours. Party of 100 go to Palace Theatre.
31 October 1939 Barras Bridge, Newcastle.
14:00 hours. Visit by G.o.C. (General Herbert).
Order confining Company to Barracks cancelled.
Working Parties continue at:-
Gosforth Park.
P.T. Centre.
and Ellison Place.
Appendices attached to October 1939 War Diary of 508th Field Park Company, R.E.
The single sheet Company Training Programmes were attached.
As described on the September War Diary, the Programme up to 14th October was the second in the series and covered Tests 15 to 25 as well as adding Equipment Fitting and sessions on Power Tools to the subjects such as Weapon Training.
The Programme covering 16th to 21st October included further R.E. tests – namely 26 to 33 and the general topic areas covered tubular scaffolding, field geometry, folding boat equipment and water supply and pumping as well as the continuation of anti-gas and weapon training and drill.
These Programmes give an inkling of the range of tasks which these local Engineer Units were expected to be able to tackle, and the types of equipment and tools with which they were required to be familiar.
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