Lt Col Eric Burini

It is with sadness that I inform you of the death of Lt Col Eric Burini who died today Wednesday 29 March 11.

Eric was born in Ahmednagar, near Bombay in India on 20 April 1922.  Eric joined The Durham Light Infantry in 1944 as a recruit and later Commissioned into 2DLI in August 1945.  After service in Uruli near Poona he sailed to Malaya on Op. Zipper. (The invasion of Malaya).

When 2DLI disbanded in 1947, Eric joined 1DLI who were in Salonika (Greece). He married Pauline Elizabeth Tait in St Mary’s Cathedral Newcastle upon Tyne in August 1949.  He also served with the 4^th Bn King’s African Rifles in 1951 and with The 70^th East African Brigade in 1954 as G3 in Kenya. 

He rejoined 1DLI in Korea in August 1952 where he was Mentioned in Despatches.  After service at HQ Cyprus District in Nicosia and GHQ MELF in Polymedia in 1957 and 1958 he returned to 1DLI in Honiton and Commanded B Coy when Lt Col D’Arcy-Irvine was CO. 

He was in Berlin when the ”wall” was erected.  Eric finished his service as CO 6/8DLI from 1968 to 1970 as a Lt Colonel.

Details of his funeral, Requiem Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral on Thursday 7th April at 12.05pm, cremation to follow at the West Road Crematorium at 1.30pm. Would friends please meet at the church. Family flowers only please. A retiring collection to take place in aid of The Poppy Appeal.

 

“We Will Remember Him”

The Durham Light Infantry Association

BRANCH BULLETIN MARCH 2011

18.11 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE - AGM

The AGM of the DLI Association Executive Committee will take place on Wednesday 20 April 2011 in the Rifles Durham Office, Elvet Waterside, Durham commencing at 1400 hrs. All the necessary minutes and miscellaneous papers will be available at the meeting. Please ensure that your branch is represented.

19.11 INDOOR GAMES - RESULTS

161 Members of the Association attended the 2011 Indoor Games held on Sunday 6 March 2011 in the RBL Dubmire Club, Fencehouses and the results are as follows:

DARTS : Winners : Gateshead & Newcastle

Runners Up : Spennymoor

DOMINOES : Winners : Houghton Le Spring

Runners Up : City of Sunderland

WHIST : Winners : Chester Le Street

Runners Up : Consett & Stanley

CHAMPIONS : Houghton Le Spring

Runners Up : Chester Le Street & Consett & Stanley (Joint)

May we thank the Houghton- Le- Spring Branch for the splendid organisation of the Games and a special thanks to all branches for donating the prizes for the raffle which raised £200.00 and the catering staff who provided an excellent lunch.

20.11 LIGHT INFANTRY REUNION

Branches are in receipt of the “Calling Notice” for the Light Infantry Reunion which takes place in Shrewsbury from 10th to 12th of June 2011. Please note that all bids should be made via the Rifles Durham Office and NOT direct to Shrewsbury. Bids with the appropriate remittance should reach the Durham office by 20 April 2011.

21.11 BRANCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Despite the reminder in the February Bulletin the following branches have not yet submitted their Financial Statement for the year ending 31 December 2010.

Ryhope & Silksworth, Horden & Peterlee, Washington, Darlington & Newton Aycliffe, Spennymoor , Stockton.

These statements are mandatory under the Charities Act and if not submitted to the central body of the organization could jeopardise its charitable status. These statements are also required for my report to the Trustees of the Association who meet on 5 May 2011. Please respond at an early date.

22.11 TOMMY PARKER DLI

The Cheltenham Branch Secretary, Mr. Terry Cull tel No. 0773 309 3253 has notified the Gloucester Rifles Office that a Tommy Cooper ex DLI who moved down to live just outside Cheltenham about two years ago has cancer and is in and out of hospital. Their members have been visiting him and thought that if anyone knew him from his Regiment they might like to get in touch.

23.11 ASSOCIATION SWEEPSTAKE – 2011

This years Association Sweepstake will be run in aid of the DLI Memorial Appeal and will again be based on the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe run in Paris on Sunday 2 October 2011. It is hoped that all branches will give maximum co-operation to ensure that a substantial contribution can be made to the fund...

24.11 DLI CALENDAR – 2012

We are now putting together items for next years’ DLI Association Calendar and would appreciate any photographs which members consider would be appreciated by a wider audience, especially named groups from any period. If you have any, please send or bring them to the Rifles Durham Office. We will return all photographs to the owners as soon as publication has taken place.

The following deaths have been notified since the last Bulletin:

Billy Hall - 8 DLI - Durham City

James Greagan - DLI aged 94

George Edward Minto - 6 DLI aged 85

                    May They Rest in Peace

 

Kevin Storey. BEM.

Secretary March 2011

Film Screening at Gala

Tuesday 29 March, 8.00pm

Restrepo (15) 94 mins

Dirs. Sebastian Junger, Tim Hetherington.

Ever wonder what it's really like to be in the trenches of war? Look no further. Restrepo may be one of the most experiential and visceral war films you'll ever see. Directors Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington spent 15 months dug in with the soldiers of the Second Platoon in one of Afghanistan’s most strategically crucial valleys. The resulting film – a mix of interviews and handheld footage – offers perhaps the most intimate and unflinching examination yet of the processes of modern warfare. Winner of the Documentary Grand Jury Prize, 2010 Sundance Film Festival.

This film is showing at Gala Cinema as part of the DLI Museum's exhibition Courageous Restraint: 3 RIFLES in Afghanistan and will be preceded by the screening of some footage from the British Pathe archives relating to earlier interventions by the British Army in Afghanistan and the surrounding region.  The Courageous Restraint exhibition has been created from interviews with soldiers from the North East and explores the recent tour of Helmand Province by 3 RIFLES whilst also making links to the experience of DLI soldiers in the same region during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Tickets: £7 (full), £6.25 (concessions), £6.00 (Gala Friends, DLI Museum and Durham Art Gallery Annual Pass holders, and DLI Museum Friends)

To book tickets, call the Gala Box Office on 0191 332 4041 or visit www.galadurham.co.uk

Gala Theatre & Cinema, Millennium Place, Durham, DH1 1WA
Email: info@galadurham.co.uk

Web: www.galadurham.co.uk

RBL 90th Anniversary Celebration Service

Durham Cathedral on Sunday 13^th March

A service to celebrate the ninetieth anniversary of the Royal British Legion was held in Durham Cathedral on Sunday 13^th March. Following the service a parade around Palace Green was held.

 

Link to all photos LINK

DLI Indoor Games 2011

The annual DLI indoor games were held this year at the  RBL Club in Fencehouses. Over one hundred and fifty members and guests attended to make the day a huge success.

A full report will follow.

 

   

LINK to all photos