1942
From January 1st, 1942, Platoon Commanders were promoted to the rank of Lieutenants, Assistant Platoon Comanders at the same time being granted the rank of 2nd Lietenants, notice of which appeared in Company orders as follow :
"To be Lieut's : W.J. Craggs, J.R. Goss, I.A. Richmond, C. Browne. To be 2nd Lieut's : L.E. Bell, G.A.Burn, A.Lumsden, R.V. Green. |
This year probably saw the Company at the peak of its activities. Exercises followed each other in rapid succesion, relieving the monotony of the ordinary training. C.S.M. Mackay who had given good service to Company, left the district and Sgt Morrison an enthusiastic member of the Company, suceeded him as C.S.M. In January the Company attended a full scale range firing at Hartley Ranges which involved all weapons, including Northovers for the first time.
Exercise C - G was planned and carried out in April. It involved "C" and "G" Company and commenced at 0900 hrs on 22nd April. The first objective was the capture of the railway bridge on Benfield Road, this being effectively carried out, partly under a smoke screen, No 12 Platoon pushed through to Walker Gate Station, supported by 9,10 and 11, less two machine guns left at the bridge to protect the rear. The final objective was the capture of Parsons Works defended by "G" Company. The main assault was at the front of the works were "G" Company had positioned its defenses, however "G" Companies Headquarters, in Parsons Canteen was captured by subterfuge. An assault from the rear, without much opposition by 2nd Lieutenant Lumsden and some of his men.
"C" Company Non Commisioned Officers
Back Row (Unknown),(Unknown),(Unknown),(Unknown),(Unknown),(Unknown),(Sgt F.G. Gowan),(Unknown),(Unknown),(Cpl J.R. Dickson),(LCpl A.W. Featherstone),(Unknown),(Unknown).
Middle Row (Unknown),(Unknown),(Uknown),(Unknown),(Unknown),(LCpl J.W. Farbridge),(L Cpl T.W Temple),(Unknown),(Unknown),(Unknown),(Unknown),(Unknown),(Unknown),(Cpl R. Jeffrey).
Front row (Unknown),(Unknown),(Unknown),(Unknown),(Unknown),(C.S.M. G. Morrison),(Major J.B. Mennie),(C.Q.M.S. F. Owen),(Sgt W. Pearson),(Sgt A. Mayne),(Sgt G. Bamborough),(Sgt S.E.W. Cochrane),(Unknown).
The Easter Camp took place again in this year, owing to a hitch in transport arrangements, it was decided to march the Company to Ponteland Camp, the baggage and heavy equipment being taken on the Company truck. Setting off from C.H.Q. on a fine morning, the party in full marching order proceeded on their journey. The first halt was taken at Kenton Bank Top, after which they proceeded at a good pace until the "Wheatsheaf" was reached where the men partook of refreshments. From here the Company plodded on, and arrived at Camp tired and footsore, but proud of the fact that they had accomplished the march. Led by Major Mennie, with Sergeant Pearson and Corporal Dickson as pacemakers, the party were entertained by the "choir", led by Vols. Wall, Williams and Fair, who sang practically the whole way. During the week-end the principal activity was shooting, with plenty of social functions to interest everyone in their leisure hours. The march back to C.H.Q. was by a different route, by Dinnington, Gosforth and the Great North Road. On approaching the C.H.Q., the men were called to attention, and it was a most inspiring sight to watch them finish the march with a swagger that would have been a credit to Guardsmen.
About this time a Company photograph was taken outside St Georges Church Hall (see page 1).
Compulsory service in the Home Guard, introduced by the Government, altered the personnel a good deal. Men being allowed the option of resigning before the new measure came into force, some of the older members were unfortunately obliged to sever their connections with the Home Guard, owing to the strain. The scarcity of volunteers coming forward to replace the severe drain neccesitated by the transfer of young men to H.M. Forces, had obliged the Government to introduce this measure. Although the change did not affect the spirit of the Home Guard at once, the introduction of "directed men" as they were called, eventually had its effect.
"C" Company 11 Platoon
Back Row (Unknown),(Unknown),(Unknown),(Unknown),(Unknown),Unknown),(Pvt C.R.Hastie),(Pvt N.W.J. Bagnall),(Unknown),(Unknown),(Unknown),(Pvt L.B. Fair),(Sgt A Mayne),(Unknown),(Unknown)
Front Row (Unknown),(Unknown),(Cpl S.E.W. Cochrane),(Pvt P Gilroy),(Unknown),(Unknown),(Lieut I,A. Richmond),(Sgt R,V. Green),(Unknown),(Unknown),(Unknown),(Unknown).
Training and exercises continued throughout the year. In May Lieutenant Richmond gave a programme of gas training lectures, which involved respirator drill. On completion of this course each member was required to enter the gas room for the purpose of testing the respirator.
A visit was paid to the bombing range on Kenton Moor, with the object of each man throwing at least one live bomb. A startling incident occured towards the end of the bombing, when one of the members accidently hit the parados (rear side of the trench) while in the act of throwing his bomb. The bomb landed on top of the parapet (the side of the trench facing the enemy) and started to roll back into the bay. 2nd Lieutenant Green, with great presence of mind , threw the bomb over the parapet, at the same time pulling the man down. Immediatly afterwards the bomb exploded.
Company exercises were held on May 31st and 7th June, culminating in Exercise "D" on 28th June. It involved a full scale attack of "C" Company's area by "D", "E" and "F" Companies. "D" Company attacked from the Timber Yard, "E" Company from the Dukes Moor area and "F" Company from Mathew Bank. Thus the attack came from three different directions, co-odinated to be delivered simultaneously. These exercises proved useful in finding weak spots in the Company defence scheme, which could then be tightened up.
In early June No. 9 Platoon participated in a street fighting course, under the sector experts. The venue was the bomb wrecked streets of Shieldfield, requisitioned for the purpose. The sector experts , so impressed by the realistic efforts, chose No.9 Platoon to demonstrate street fighting tactics to other regular and Home Guard units. The demonstrations started on June 12th and ran for several weeks.
Proficiency classes were commenced, in June and July, for forthcoming tests to be held at the end of July. Candidates were required to take a number of subjects, such as bombing, care of arms etc. Before being allowed to enter, they must have registered a two inch group on the miniature range and an eight inch group on the open range. The personnel selected were duly examined, the result being most gratifying, with 100 per cent passing, the first Company in the Battalion to do so. Later Lieutenant-Colonel Macdonald presented the red diamond, the badge of proficiency, to the succesfull candidates.
The Home Guard Certificate of Proficiency of Lance Corporal E.W. Moore. It shows courses taken, distinctions achieved and the signatures of the Commanding Officer of "C" Company, Major J.B. Mennie and 12th Battallion Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel J. Macdonald, M.C.
August came round again and with it the Battalion Camp, this time arranged for a full week, August 1st to 8th. Major Mennie and Captain Mole put in a terrific amount of preliminary work to make the camp succesful. Crockery, blankets , beds and all sorts of things, to ensure success, were gathered together and packed. Every detail was worked out as far as human foresight could devise for the comfort of everyone. As usual "C" Company provided an advance party to unload trucks and erect tents. The fatigue party under the Company Commander and his officers consisted of the keenest members of the Company, ever ready to volunteer for duties however distasteful. These names must always stand high in the annals of the Company : Muse, Hastie, Farbridge, Bunch, Dickson, Pearson, Haywood - and others, always cheerful, and in the thick of it. Mention must be made of 2nd Lieutenant G.A. Burn, whose car and trailer, placed at the disposal of the Company, must be one of the wonders of the world. The loads of kit , machine guns and beer which this car and trailer carried to and from camp was enormous.
Exercise "Tyne" was held in September, prior to this many weeks were spent in intensive preparation. This was a full scale exercise, all the Battalions of the Newcastle Home Guard defending the city from attack by the 15th Scottish Division. Umpires were provided by regular units, principally from the "Panda" Division (9th Armoured Division). The exercise passed relatively quietly for "C" Company with most of the main attack being centred on the Benton area.
During the past year the Company had been losing members through various causes, the chief of which was transfer to H.M . Forces. Quite a number, however, had been promoted to other Companies or Battalion Headquarters. Lieut Craggs went to "F" Company as Second in Command with the rank of Captain. Sgt Hawks was also promoted Captain on his transfer to Battalion H.Q. as Signals Officer. The following were promoted 2nd Lieutenants on their transfer to "A" Company : Corporal Bunch, Lance Corporal Richardson, Privates Wilde, Binger, Burke, Pratt and Swain.
The rank of Volunteer, it will be noted, had now been superseded by that of private, owing to the compulsory scheme now in force.
Winter training commenced with visits to the open range at Ponteland and the miniature range. On Boxing Day the childrens party was held, with the usual attractions.
During the Christmas and New Year the men were given a well-earned rest from parades.