Divisional Commander Royal Engineers 23rd (Northumbrian) Division.

War Diary August 1939.

Written (typed) from 3, The Crescent, GATESHEAD 8.

30th August 1939.

234th Army Field Company Royal Engineers mobilised.

31st August 1939.

Headquarters 23rd Division Royal Engineers mobilised.

233rd Field Company Royal Engineers mobilised.

507th Field Company Royal Engineers mobilised.

508th Field Park Company Royal Engineers mobilised.

War Diary September 1939.

1st September 1939.

Training and Engineer services commenced.

20th September 1939.

234th Army Field Company Royal Engineers sent an Advance Party to an unknown destination.

21st September 1939.

234th Army Field Company Royal Engineers sent their transport to an unknown destination.

22nd September 1939.

234th Army Field Company Royal Engineers moved off for an unknown destination.

29th September 1939.

The General Officer Commanding 23rd Division visited 23rd Divisional Royal Engineers.

C.Q.M.S. G.R.SMITH was commissioned and appointed Adjutant.

War Diary October 1939.

1st October 1939.

Training and Engineer services continued.

18th October 1939.

An Army Class Intake reported to the Divisional Royal Engineers. (No details are given of numbers, or whether these men were Militia who had been taken on strength for basic training in July 1939, or subsequent conscripts. Given the timing it is likely that they were part of the one and only intake of Militia, following the enactment of the relevant legislation).

22nd October 1939.

Headquarters and 508th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers, occupied the Royal Engineers Drill Hall at Barras Bridge, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. (The War Diary is now shown as being written from that location).

31st October 1939.

Major H.E.BURTON retired.

War Diary November 1939.

Training and Engineer services continued.

War Diary December 1939.

Training and Engineer services continued.

5th December 1939.

Captains G.R.SMITH and C.F.BYERS were both "gazetted". (This means that confirmation of their appointments to that rank appeared in the pages of the London Gazette - effectively the formal notification to the public).

20th December 1939.

Lt.Col. J.R.KENNEDY proceeded on Xmas leave and Major H.B.LINTON assumed command of the unit.

29th December 1939.

Lt.Col. J.R.KENNEDY returned from Xmas leave and re-assumed command of the unit.

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