Divisional Commander Royal Engineers 23rd (Northumbrian) Division January to April 1940.
At this point the War Diary for the Divisional Royal Engineers is being written from their HQ at the Drill Hall at Barras Bridge, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
War Diary January 1940.
Training and Engineer services continued.
8th January 1940.
Lieutenant J.M.S.LAMBIE posted to the unit.
19th January 1940.
Company Commanders Conference took place at HQ.
26th January 1940.
Company Commanders Conference took place at HQ.
War Diary February 1940.
Training and Engineer Services continued.
2nd February 1940.
Company Commanders Conference took place at HQ.
9th February 1940.
Company Commanders Conference took place at HQ.
16th February 1940.
Company Commanders Conference took place at HQ.
An Army Class Intake reported to the unit. (Again, no details of numbers or the source of these men is given).
23rd February 1940.
Company Commanders Conference took place at HQ.
27th February 1940.
The Commander Royal Engineers, and the Adjutant, attended a Divisional T.E.W.T. (Tactical Exercise without troops) at Divisional HQ in Darlington.
29th February 1940.
The Commander Royal Engineers attended a Command T.E.W.T. in York, which lasted for two days.
War Diary March 1940.
2nd March 1940.
507th Field Company Royal Engineers moved to HEYTESBURY.
4th March 1940.
The unit had a visit from the Chief Engineer of Northern Command.
8th March 1940.
The Commander Royal Engineers received verbal orders to move to a Concentration Area and 233rd Field Company, Royal Engineers, reconnoitred a Camp site in the North Yorkshire area.
23rd March 1940.
A Warning Order for move overseas was received - reference 23rd Division S/1008/50.
24th March 1940.
507th Field Company Royal Engineers returned from HEYTESBURY to SUNDERLAND.
An Administrative Order to move overseas was received.
25th March 1940.
The Commander Royal Engineers and 2/Lt BROWN proceeded overseas for a reconnaissance.
War Diary April 1940
1st April 1940
The Commander Royal Engineers returned from overseas to report on the reconnaissance.
A Divisional Pioneers Course under the Officer Commanding 233rd Field Company, Royal Engineers, commenced.
5th April 1940
Thirty Officers and Other Ranks attended a Royal Engineers demonstration at RIPON.
7th April 1940
The Commander Royal Engineers proceeded overseas.
10th April 1940
The Advance Party of the unit proceeded overseas.
Major K.Mc.K.CAMERON took over the duties of Acting Commander Royal Engineers.
20th April 1940
The unit left their home station in Newcastle-upon-Tyne by train for embarkation overseas, which they did on 21st April 1940.
22nd April 1940
The unit arrived in France and proceeded to the Rest Camp.
23rd April 1940
The Forward HQ of the unit left the Rest Camp and arrived at their destination for the purpose of preparing the site for the unit.
27th April 1940
The remainder of the unit arrived at their destination.
In the manpower returns dated 27th April the Divisional Royal Engineer unit had a total of 31 men (One Warrant Officer Class 1, one Sergeant, one Corporal (with one vacancy) and 28 Sappers (with one surplus)) and 6 Officers (Lt Col J.R.Kennedy, Lt (T/Capt) Gordon R.Smith (plus one Captain vacancy) and three Second Lieutenants - T.K.Davison, K.Dodds and D.R.Wood. That day, Captain E.H.Jaques, who had been attached to the unit from the RAMC as Regimental Medical Officer, left on being attached to the Field Park Company. The unit also had two medical orderlies attached to it from 186th Field Ambulance.
From 28th April until 9th May the unit was carrying out normal duties and working on stores for the Companies.
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