BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 123^rd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, ALNWICK,

6^th MARCH, 1915.

161 – Clothing – Immediate Issue of, on Joining –

            The War Office point out in circular letter 54/General Number/Q.M.G.7/, dated 3^rd March, 1915, that in spite of constant and frequent communications having been made emphasising the necessity of completing troops with Service dress, the weekly reports received show invariably a number of men without Service dress.

The attention of O.C. Units of this Brigade has on previous occasions been drawn to this matter.  Officers Commanding Battalions will at once take steps to ensure that every man on the day of joining their Battalion is immediately clothed in Service Dress.  This order is to be rigidly carried out.  To ensure this being done without fail a sufficient stock of surplus clothing (and necessaries) will be kept in the Quarter Master stores both with the Headquarters of the Unit and with the Depot Company.

Should the Brigade Storekeeper be unable to supply at once the clothing, the Commanding Officer concerned will be held personally responsible that an indent is immediately forwarded to the Chief Ordnance Officer, York, for the supply required.  Should the stores be unobtainable from York, a report to that effect will be made to this office.

162 – Extracts from Northern Command Orders –

PERISCOPES – ISSUE OF –

            It has been decided to issue Periscopes, on the scale of 12 per Infantry Battalion, to all units of the New Armies and Territorial Force proceeding to the Continent of Europe.

The mobilization store table for these units, as detailed below, should be amended by inserting the above item under Section No. 15 B. and the equipments adjusted accordingly.

Army Form G. 1098-110, dated January, 1915.

Army Form G1098-43A, dated February, 1915.

Authority, 84/W/6063 (Q.M.GF. 10), dated War Office, 27^th February, 1915.

C.R.N.C. No. 46157(O.S.).  Northern Command Order No.315.

AMENDMENTS –

The following amendment should be made to Army Form G/1096-34 Inventory Form for Wagons G.S. Special 14 feet long:-

Under sub heading of “Spare Parts” –

Insert Blocks, brake (Front 2, Rear 2), in seat box.

Brake Bars will be allowed spare at the rate of 5 per cent., but these items will not be mentioned on the inventory.  For purpose of Indents. The nomenclature of this store is:-

“Bar, brake wagon G.S. special, 14 feet long.”

Authority, 57/3/4503 (A.3), dated War Office 27^th February, 1915.

C.R.N.C. No. 46144 (O.S.).  Northern Command Order, No.317.

BICYCLES –

            It has been decided that only the Service patterns Bicycle is suitable for service overseas, and that when units are ordered to proceed there, they may be so equipped.

Non-service machines are suitable for Home service, and any displaced by the issue of Service patterns should either be returned to store or passed to the Reserve Unit as directed in Command Order No. 252, dated 22^nd February, 1915.

Authority, 57/Aldershot/8858 (A.3.), dated War Office, 27^th February, 1915.

C.R.N.C. No. 38021/15/6 (O.S.).  Northern Command Order No.320.

APPLICATION FOR SUPPLY OF STORES –

            Attention is again called to the frequency with which application for Supply of stores and ordinary routine correspondence are forwarded to Headquarters. Northern Command.

Much unnecessary correspondence is caused thereby.

All such communications should be addressed to the Chief Ordinance Officer, York, under paragraph 18, Equipment Regulations, Part 1.

C.R.N.C. No. 46388 (O.S.).  Northern Command Order No.321.

ALLOTMENTS OF PAY – DEPENDANTS OF SOLDIERS –

            It is notified to all concerned that in all cases where a soldier offers an Allotment of Pay on A.F.O. 1838 in support of an application for Separation Allowance for a dependant under Army Order 440/14, the Officer Commanding should take steps to regulate the cash issues to the soldier in accordance with the amount allotted from the date of application (or date of  enlistment of [if] application is made within 10 days of that date).           

Authority, War Office letter No. 46/203 (Accounts 3 c), dated 24/2/15.

C.R.N.C. No. 45374.  Northern Command Order No.323.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 123^rd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.