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

COMMANDING 123^rd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE,

6^th FEBRUARY, 1915.

104 – Men Medically Unfit – Discharge of –

Considerable loss has accrued to the Public owing to the enlistment in this Brigade of men subsequently found to be medically unfit for service.  In many cases such men have been maintained at the public expense for some months before their cases have been referred to this Office.

In future to insure that only men of sound physique shall join the Brigade, Officers Commanding Units will be held responsible that every recruit who may be sent to join his Battalion is thoroughly overhauled by the Doctor attached to the Unit.  An application for the discharge of any man (vide King’s Regulations, para. 392) found to be unfit will be forwarded without loss of time to this office.

Men who have once been attested cannot be discharged except by the authority laid down.

Steps have already been taken which, it is hoped will ensure the medical examination of men prior to attestation being much more strictly carried out than has hitherto been the case.

105 –Razors – Supply of –

A supply of razors is now available from the Ordnance Store.  Officers Commanding Units will forward indents without loss of time for the full number required to Chief Ordnance Officer, Northern Command Office, York.

106 – Extracts from Northern Command Orders –

“LONDON GAZETTE” the following extracts from the Supplement to the “London Gazette” dated Friday 29^th January, 1915, are published for information:-

The Northumberland Fusiliers –

20^th Battalion (1^st Tyneside Scottish). – The undermentioned temporary Lieutenants to be temporary Captains.  Dated 7^th January, 1915.

Edwin Graham

Gerald O. Laing.

22^nd Battalion (3^rd Tyneside Scottish) – Utrick Alexander to be temporary Second Lieutenant.  Dated 6^th January, 1915.

23^rd Battalion (4^th Tyneside Scottish) – John George Todd to be temporary Captain.  Dated 31^st December, 1914.  (Substituted for the notification which appeared in the “Gazette” of 25^th January,1915.)

RECRUITS – DENTAL TREATMENT –

It is pointed out that recruits who would, except for defective teeth, be in all respects fit for General Service in the Army, and are prepared to undergo dental treatment, but cannot keep themselves whilst out of work and in the dentist’s hands, may, if the Medical Officer is of opinion that with dental treatment this defect can be remedied, be attested and final approval deferred until they are pronounced by the examining Medical Officer as in every respect physically fit for service in the Army.

C.R.N.C. No. 41919/M.  Northern Command Order No. 155.

Extracts from Northern Command Orders continued –

INOCULATION AGAINST ENTERIC FEVER.

Reference Order No. 1819, dated 23^rd December, 1914, it has come to notice that in some instances men are given 48 hours’ leave immediately after Inoculation.

This is not the intention of the order, and the practice must cease.

All cases after Inoculation should be given light duty or struck off duty altogether for 48 hours, but must remain in Barracks or Billets, and be under the immediate observation of the Medical Officer.

There is no objection to leave being granted for 48 hours after the period of observation has elapsed.

Northern Command Order No. 156.

SICKNESS – WHILE ON LEAVE

It has been brought to notice that paragraph 1323 King’s Regulations is not being complied with, and bills for various amounts are being received from Civil Medical Practitioners for attendance on Soldiers at Stations where there are either Military Hospitals or Military Medical Officers.

Commanding Officers should draw the attention of all concerned to the Regulations.

In future no bills will be passed for Medical Attendance on Soldiers at Stations where Military treatment is available.

Northern Command Order No. 157.

EQUIPMENT – INFANTRY – PATTERN 1914 – TALLOW FOR CLEANING AND PRESERVATION OF –

It has been decided that Tallow in the proportion of two ounces per set per month should be demanded from the Army Ordnance Department by Units in possession of 1914 Infantry Equipment for the cleaning and preservation of the Leather portions.  It is desirable the Tallow should be applied at once.  Indents should be forwarded to the Chief Ordnance Officer, York, as early as possible.

C.R.N.C. No. 38594/42/O.S. Northern Command Order No. 160.

CLOTHING POLICE – EMPLOYED AS DRILL INSTRUCTORS –

It has been decided that Police Instructors rejoining the Police Force should return all clothing etc., to Store, with the exception of one pair of boots, which may be retained.

Authority, A.C.D./5 R.D./1015, dated 1^st February, 1915.

C.R.N.C. No. 41980/A.  Northern Command Order No. 161.

DRESS –

Where Inspections are held in inclement weather, Great Coats should be worn.

Authority, War Office letter No. 940/G.M.G.7, dated 1^st February, 1915.

C.R.N.C. No. 41980/A.   Northern Command Order No. 162.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

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

BRIGADE ORDERS.

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

COMMANDING 123^rd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE,

5^th FEBRUARY, 1915.

100. Entrenching Tools–

200 Picks and 200 Shovels per Battalion may now be indented for from the Chief Ordnance Officer, York.  Indents should be forwarded at once.

101. Signalling Equipment–

The following Signalling Equipment, pre Battalion can now be indented for from the Chief Ordnance Officer, York, and should be demanded at once.

Cases, message book                                    5

Flags, signal, army –

Blur, 2 feet square                             48

White, with stripe 2 feet square       58

Poles, 3 feet 6 inches                     158

            Compasses, prismatic                                     5

Cases,             do                                             5

102. Diet Sheets–

Officers Commanding Units will arrange with Contractors for weekly diet sheets to be submitted to them in advance, for approval.  Copies of the sheets will invariably be posted up in prominent positions outside the Billets, one copy to be forwarded to this Office.

103. Medals–

Commanding Officers will cause nominal rolls to be prepared of all ranks in their Units in possession of medals.  A copy of the roll to be sent to this Office.  The roll should show for what campaign the medal was granted.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

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

BRIGADE ORDERS.

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

COMMANDING 123^rd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE,

4^th February, 1915.

95 – Officiating Clergyman – Appointment of –

            The undermentioned gentleman has been appointed Officiating Clergyman to the Brigade:-

The Rev. H.G. Attwater.

Authority, C.R.N.C. 13/297/100/A., dated 30^th January, 1915.

96 – Demands for Stationary.  The attention of Officers Commanding Units is called to War Office letter 26/2720 C.2., circulated herewith.

97 – Men Medically Unfit – Nominal Rolls of all men who have been attested and subsequently rejected as medically unfit, are to be forwarded to this Office with as little delay as possible.  The place and date of attestation and the name of the Doctor who made the initial medical examination, should be stated.

98 – Billets – Care of Bedding, etc. – The following procedure with reference to blankets and palliasses is to be observed:- (1) Blankets are to be taken out daily and well shaken before being folded up.  (2) Palliasses are to be aired in the open several hours at a time during each week as weather permits.  They should be shaken and the straw changed once every month.  The old straw is to be burnt.

99 – Extracts from Northern Command Orders –

“LONDON GAZETTE” –

The following extract from the Second Supplement to the “London Gazette,” dated Tuesday, the 26^th January 1915, is published for information:-

The Northumberland Fusiliers –

23^rd Battalion (4^th Tyneside Scottish), Captain John C. Campbell, 5^th Battalion, The Royal Irish Rifles, to command the Battalion and to be temporary Lieutenant-Colonel.  Dated 27^th November, 1914.

SOLDIERS COMMITTED TO DETENTION BARRACKS – INCOMPLETE KIT – it has been brought to notice that men who are committed to Detention Barracks arrive there with incomplete kits, and, in a large number of cases, even without a change of washing.

It is essential that men should be in possession of change of clothing, as well as their other kit, and considerable trouble and expense are incurred in writing to units for the deficient article.

Every soldier committed to Detention Barracks should take with him clothing and necessaries, completed to Active Service scale, and articles of equipment as provided in paragraph 646 King’s Regulations, where such latter are in possession of the man.

Authority, War Office letter No. 23/Southern/201 (A.G.3), dated 27^th January, 1915.

C.R.N.C. No. 41493/A.  Northern Command Order No. 145.

Extracts from Northern Command Orders- continued –

SURPLUS STORES NOT TO BE RETAINED.

The attention of all Commanding Officers is drawn to the necessity for immediately returning to the Army Ordnance Department all stores not being used.

A large number of issues have also been made of stores probably required for a short time only, and these should not be retained if not in use.  Camp equipment of all sorts is also included in this order.

C.R.N.C. No. 40756/O.S.  Northern Command Order No. 147.

SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION, CHELSEA – All ball ammunition will be collected from Non-Commissioned Officers before they are sent to join the School of Instruction, Chelsea.

ANTI-TYPHOID INOCULATION

The following Enteric Fever statistics are published for general information.

This order should be re-published in Divisional, Brigade, Garrison and Regimental Orders:-

“Of the first 421 cases of Typhoid Fever in the present campaign amongst British troops, 305 were of men who were not inoculated.  In the 421 cases there have been 35 deaths.  Of these deaths 34 were men who had not been inoculated within two years.  Only one death occurred among patients who were inoculated, and that man had only been inoculated once…”

In view of this unanswerable evidence, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief is confident that no soldier with the welfare of his country at heart will hesitate to be inoculated.

Those who do not accept this simple prevention are furthering the interests of the enemy, as well as becoming a source of danger to their comrades.

C.R. No. 42006 (M)  Northern Command Order No. 149.

CLOTHING AND NECESSARIES –

With reference to Command Order Number 1853, dated the 31^st December, 1914, it has been decided that, in the case of units raised by individuals or municipalities all renewals of clothing and necessaries after the initial issue is completed will be obtained from Army stocks.

Commanding Officers will obtain their requirements as directed in Army Order 373 of 1914, and issues to soldiers will be governed by the instructions in the same Army Order.

Repairs to clothing and boots will be carried out as laid down for the Territorial Force in Army Order 335 of 1914.

Authority, 54/General No. /1775 (Q.M.G.7), dated War Office, 27^th January, 1915.

C.R.N.C. No. 38987/6/3 (O.S.) Northern Command Order No. 150.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

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

Gerald Benham’s notes from diaries

22 Feb. 1915 Ian Spailing’s funeral.