Outdoor Brass Band Concerts

Sunday afternoons from 2.00pm in the beautiful grounds of the DLI

Our Summer series of free outdoor brass band concerts will be taking place on Sunday afternoons at 2.00pm throughout the Summer. Come along and see some of the region's finest brass bands. The DLI Café will be open throughout each performance serving refreshments, light lunches and delicious ice-creams from Doddington's Dairy.

• Sunday 3 June - Pittington Brass
• Sunday 17 June - Bearpark and Esh Colliery Band
• Sunday 24 June - Trimdon Concert Band
• Sunday 1 July - Lanchester Brass Band
• Sunday 8 July - Durham County Brass Band Association Entertainment Contest, all day starting from 10.00am
• Sunday 5 August - Stanhope Silver Band

Jubilee Weekend and Half Term at the DLI

Activities for Children

We are open daily throughout half-term and the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend 10am-5pm, with lots of arty activities for children every day.

DLI Dads

Saturday 9th June, 10.30am-12.30pm

Activities for Dads and their children. This week we will be making and firing mini-rockets! The workshop is free of charge, (normal admission charges apply).

If you can't make this one there are lots more DLI Dads sessions planned during the Summer holidays, on Saturday 4 August and Saturday 18 August.

The Durham Light Infantry Association

BRANCH BULLETIN MAY 2012

32.12 LIGHT INFANTRY REUNION – 2013

It has been confirmed that the Light Infantry Annual Reunion in 2013 will take place from

Friday 7 June to Sunday 9 June in Copthorne Barracks, Shrewsbury. Will secretaries please note this in their forecast of events.

33.12 DLI MEMORIAL SERVICE – TICKETS

All branches have been advised that entry tickets to the DLI Memorial Service which is taking place on Sunday 22 July 2012 will not be available until after 27 June 2012. The deadline for applications has now passed and no further applications will be considered.

34.12 DLI ASSOCIATION SWEEPSTAKE

Branches are reminded that all profits from this years Sweepstake will be shared between “Care for Casualties” and the fund for the planned erection in Durham of a replica of the Arboretum statue. A further supply of tickets is available if required.

35.12 DURHAM BUGLE – SPRING EDITION

The Spring 2012 edition of the Durham Bugle was distributed at the AGM Meeting in April.

These were not issued on a Sale or Return basis but on specific orders from branches. If you have difficulty in selling all of your copies then you may wish to adjust your order for future issues. However, you must realize that The Durham Bugles is sold to branches at a considerable discount on the RRP and is excellent value.

36.12 RHQ ARBORETUM TRANSPORT

We shall shortly be supplying the Travel Company with details of our requirements who will then prepare a fully comprehensive travel document for the week-end 20-22 July. These travel details will be made available at the Executive Committee Meeting scheduled to take place on Wednesday 27 June 2012. Enclosed with this Bulletin you will find preliminary details of room lists, possible pick-up points and starting times which you should examine and inform the Rifles Durham Office of any omissions or errors.

37.12 BOOK – “FOR THEIR TOMORROW”

Copies of the above book by Harry Moses are now available from The Rifles Durham Office. The book is a history of the 2^nd Bn. DLI from 1919 until 1955 and is considered to be one of the “great reads” of published DLI histories – priced at £14.95 it would be a great addition to any library.

38.12 A HISTORY OF THE FIRST BATTALION DLI

Harry Moses is now researching for his next project which is to be a History of 1DLI from 1758 to 1968. Any member who has “named” regimental photographs groups or singles, should inform Harry through the Rifles Durham Office. Any respectable anecdotes would also be appreciated.

39.12 MEMORIAL MUGS

The Rifles Durham Office has received a further supply of the Arboretum Commemorative mug. These are priced at £6.00 each and branches should make their members aware of their existence.

40.12 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEE MEETING

The agenda for the Executive Committee Meeting scheduled to take place on Wednesday 27 June 2012 is enclosed with this Bulletin. Please ensure that your branch is represented,

41.12 DEATHS

The following death has been reported to the Rifles Office since the last Bulletin

Lord Glenamara

The Rt. Hon. Edward Short – 8 DLI

May he Rest in Peace

 

Kevin Storey BEM

Secretary

Elvet Waterside

Museum Talks Programme

Saturday 19th May 2012 - 2.00pm

Remembering War Horses

by Pip Dodd, National Army Museum

Pip Dodd is the curator of the National Army Museum's current 'War Horse' exhibition. His talk will cover a broad historical period including the First World War, examining the changing role of horses and mules in the Army. He will explore how they were (and were not) looked after, what happened to them when they were no longer required, and how the horses and mules were remembered. Pip will also consider the considerable cultural phenomenon of 'War Horse'.

 

Tickets for April - July talks (normal admission cost also applies)

Adult £4.60, Concession £3.60, Children (4-16 years) £2.60

Annual Pass Holders

Adult £2.60, Concession £2.10, Children (4-16 years) £1.60

Tickets can be bought in advance from the DLI shop or by calling 0191 384 2214.

THE WESTERN FRONT ASSOCIATION,CLEVELAND BRANCH

All are welcome to our meetings, WFA members and non-members alike.

15 May 11^th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, ‘In Their Own Names’- Martin Bashforth

Martin will be looking at the formation, training and actions of the battalion through the letters of some of the soldiers who served with it.

19 June Some Problems of Coalition Warfare – Professor John Derry

Professor Derry will be looking into the relationship between the British and French armies and the challenges and difficulties that arose during the war.

17 July The War Diaries of Tom Dary – Colin Hatton

Colin will be talking about the life and military career of local man, Tom Dary, who kept a diary from 1916 to 1919 and won the Military Medal for his actions.

16 Aug No Meeting

18 Sept ‘The Suicide Club’, ‘K’ Class Submarines– Brian Teasdale

Designed to be fast enough to operate with the Battle Fleet, this class of submarines soon became known as the ‘Kalamity’ Class. Brian will be telling the story of this notorious class of submarines.

16 Oct The Waggoners Reserve– Ian McInnes

. Ian will be telling the story of these men from the Yorkshire Wolds who were recruited to provide a core of trained wagon drivers to supply front line positions on the Western Front.

20 Nov 8 DLI and the Battle of the Lys– Clive Bowery

After being battered on the Somme in March 1918, 8^th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry was moved to the quiet area of the River Lys to rest and train up its large drafts of young reinforcements. However the German Army had other ideas. Clive will be telling the story of the battalion’s traumatic experiences in trying to hold up the next great German attack.

Branch Chairman: Sean Godfrey

WEB SITE