Talk: 2DLI at Kohima by Colonel Ted Shields

Thursday 4^th November, 7.30pm

Venue: DLI Museum.

The Battle of Kohima, fought by the 2^ndBritish Division, of which 2^nd Battalion DLI were a part, is a relatively little known but hugely significant incident within the South-East Asia campaign of the Second World War.  Following a 13-day siege and a period of intensely ferocious fighting, the Japanese forces surrendered.  It is estimated that the British and Indian forces had lost some 4000 men – dead, missing and wounded; the Japanese, 7000.

Colonel Ted is The Rifles Colonel, Durham and recently visited Kohima.  He is a devotee of regimental History and sits on The Rifles Heritage Committee, so this talk will be authoritative and informative with, no doubt, some flashes of humour.

The talk will be preceded by a drinks reception – an opportunity to meet with other ‘Friends’ of the museum or find out more about being a member.

Cost: 

Non-DLI Museum Friends        £15-00

DLI Museum Friends               £10-00

Concessions                          £  8-50

Tickets for sale in advance from the DLI Museum

Drinks and canapés from 6.45pm

The Durham Light Infantry Association.

BRANCH BULLETIN ,September 2010.

72.10 ASSOCIATION SWEEPSTAKE – DRAW

Branches who have not yet returned money & ticket counterfoils should do so as soon as possible. The draw takes place on Thursday 30 September and all counterfoils, money and unsold tickets should be returned by Wednesday 29 September 2010.

73.10 CHRISTMAS CARDS

This years Christmas Cards are proving very popular and are selling fast, branches that have not yet ordered a supply are asked to do so quickly if they wish to avoid disappointment .

74.10 ASSOCIATION CALENDARS 2011

An order form for next years DLI Calendar is enclosed with this Bulletin, only 200 have been printed. The front cover contains a picture of the Inauguration Ceremony in 1861 of the statue of Lord Londonderry in Durham Market place and considering its recent removal to a new site may become a collector's item!

75. REUNION RAFFLE – UNCLAIMED PRIZES

There was two unclaimed prizes from the Reunion Raffle and details are listed below:

Ticket No: 41463 – A bottle of Teachers Whisky

Ticket No: 41476 – A bottle of Vodka

If these remain unclaimed they will be carried forward to the Indoor Games Raffle in March 2011. Please search your pockets – no ticket, no prize.

76.10 DURHAM BUGLE – AUTUMN 2010

Issue No 21 of the Durham Bugle is now available for collection at the Rifles Durham Office. Branches are asked to make every effort to collect their quota as soon as possible. The edition contains a number of exciting articles and a selection of photographs from recent events.

77.10 INKERMAN DINNER 2010

Members of “The Faithful” Inkerman Dinner Club will have received an invitation to attend this years Dinner which is scheduled to take place on Friday 5 November 2010

in the Dubmire R.B.L. Club, Fencehouses., 7.30 PM for 8 PM. Please return your proforma to Brian Laverick as early as possible.

78.10 VICTORIA CROSS STONE CEREMONY

The Faithful Inkerman Dinner Club Victoria Cross Stone Ceremony will take place at the Durham Light Infantry Museum site on Sunday 7 November 2010. Those attending should be in situe by 10.30 AM for 10.45 AM. Dress: Regimental.

79.10 REUNION RAFFLE – TICKET SELLERS

May we record our thanks to the South Shields Branch who provided the ticket seller. The raffle made £187.50 for which the Association is most grateful.

80.10 MAJOR LAWTON – PROGRESS REPORT

Major Lawton wishes to thank all those who sent cards wishing him a speedy recovery – he says he is making good progress and has targeted the 4^th of October for his return to duty.

81.10 DEATHS

The following death has been notified to the Rifles Durham Office since the August Bulletin:

Major Edmund Thomasson MBE – ex RSM & QM

 

Kevin Storey BEM, Secretary, Elvet Waterside.

NEWS REPORT: 3 Rifles Freedom Parade

Sunderland, 10^th Sept

Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion The Rifles took part in a parade through the city on 10th September to mark the honour of the regiment being given the Freedom of Sunderland. The regiment  which recruits from throughout the North East had earlier in the week been granted the Freedom of Stockton and Darlington. Tony Griffiths was there to capture this exciting event for us.

 

 

All Photos. T. Griffiths.

LINK to all Photos.

NEWS REPORT: DLI REUNION

DURHAM CATHEDRAL, 12^th Sept

DLI Veterans assembled from across the region and beyond for the traditional parade and march past followed by a service in the cathedral. Durham Photographic Society members were on hand to photograph the occasion.

Images can be seen on: LINK

 

 

News Report: Sounding Retreat

The Band and Bugles of The Rifles completed a busy schedule in the NE on Saturday with the Sounding Retreat on palace green in Durham City. They were joined by the Borneo Band and Bugles of Durham Army Cadet Force . Members of Durham Photographic Society were on hand to record the display.

LINK to all Photos.

DLI Reunion – Durham

The annual Durham Light Infantry Reunion will take place at Durham Cathedral on Sunday 12th September 2010.

Note some roads near County Hall will be closed in the morning.

Call back later in the week to see the photos.

The Band and Bugles of The Rifles

11^th September Sounding Retreat Durham Castle.

FREEDOM PARADES, 3 RIFLES

8^th September Darlington,

9^th September Stockton,

10^th September Sunderland.

Events Sept 2010 – January 2011

8 September 2010, 7.30pm (doors open 6.45pm) – Durham Town Hall

Talk: Lt. Col. Nick Kitson – 3 Rifles in Afghanistan

Lt. Col. Nick Kitson, Commanding Officer of the Third Battalion of The Rifles, will present a candid and frank insight, speaking personally rather than from an official MOD script. This will be a unique opportunity to hear a respected British officer give a balanced and highly informative review of the recent 3 Rifles Battle Group tour in Afghanistan.

Cost: £10 (raising funds for Care for Casualties, the Rifles charity set up to support soldiers injured in Afghanistan); tickets are available from the DLI Museum

25 September 2010, 1.30pm

Visit: Heugh Gun Battery, Hartlepool

John Southcott, Chairman of the Heugh Gun Battery Trust, will lead us on a tour of the Battery with a long history from 1859 to 1956, including the famous Bombardment of the Hartlepools on 16 December 1914.

Cost: Pay individually on site – Adult £4.00; Concession £2.50.

4 November 2010, 7.30pm (doors open 6.45) – Venue to be confirmed

Talk: Col. Ted Shields – 2DLI at Kohima

Colonel Ted is The Rifles Colonel, Durham and recently visited Kohima as part of his role as Chief of Staff of 2^nd Division, with whom 2DLI served at Kohima (see recent article in The Durham Bugle). He is a devotee of regimental History and sits on The Rifles Heritage Committee, so this talk will be authoritative and, knowing Ted, it will also be entertaining.

Cost: £10 Friends, £15 non-Friends

22 January 2011, coach leaving DLI Museum at 9.00am and returning 5.30pm

Visit: Fusilier Museum, Bury

A special tour has been arranged by the Regimental Secretary and passionate curator Col. Mike Glover. The Fusilier Museum is of particular interest for two reasons. First, it has the most recently developed regimental museum exhibitions in the north of England since the DLI Museum was re-displayed ten years ago. Second, the Lancashire Fusiliers and Durham Light Infantry share a similar 20^th century history in WWI and WWII and both regiments were amalgamated in 1968. The new Fusilier Museum tells the story of the Lancashire Fusiliers and the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers up to the present day.