The Brigade came into being on 1st September 1939 and was a second-line unit, formed from three duplicate Battalions of the Durham Light Infantry, 10th, 11th and 12th DLI. The 10th was based around Bishop Auckland, the 11th in Durham and Chester-le-Street, and the 12th in Gateshead. Brigade HQ was in Chester-le-Street.
On 1st February 1940, the 12th Battalion DLI became the 1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish, Black Watch, Royal Highland Regiment (in an echo of the Tyneside Scottish Brigade of the RNF which had existed during the First World War) although the Battalion remained with the Brigade.
The Brigade joined the B.E.F. in April 1940 for construction duties on the lines of communication in France and suffered considerable casualties during the German assaults in May 1940, when it was attacked by several Panzer Divisions. Many of the casualties are commemorated on the War Memorials documented on the Website. Many members of the Brigade were captured, and several died as PoWs.
After a tough spell of garrison duties in Iceland the Brigade returned to the UK for further training in mountain warfare, although it was not used in that role, then, along with the rest of 49th Division, moved on to invasion training and landed in Normandy a few days after D-Day.
The Brigade distinguished itself in the subsequent actions in Normandy culminating in the fierce battle for Rauray. Again, significant casualties were suffered in these operations. Sadly, the need for reinforcements for other units as the War in Europe progressed meant that the Brigade was one of the formations chosen to be broken up and it was disbanded in Autumn 1944, its members being dispersed to other Battalions.
NEWMP will be making a bid for Heritage Lottery funding to complete this work on 70th Brigade, which will include a database, as comprehensive as records allow, of those who served in its ranks, together with links to the North East War Memorials on which its dead are commemorated.
If you have any information on family members who may have served with these three Battalions, or with the associated Artillery and Medical Units, please get in touch with John Dixon at 70brigade@newmp.org.uk he will be very pleased to hear from you.
