The Durham Light Infantry Association

BRANCH BULLETIN JUNE 2013

40.13 WESTERN FRONT ASSOCIATION

The Durham Branch of The Western Front Association is organizing a conference on 6 September 2014 to commemorate the centenary of the beginning of the war in 1914. This will be held in the Cornerstones Methodist Church in the centre of Chester-le-Street. The conference will have four keynote speakers of academic importance and will discuss the strategic positions of Britain and Germany and the impact on British operations in 1914. This is an early notice and branches will be kept informed as further information is received.

41.13 ANNUAL REUNION – 8 SEPTEMBER 2013

The Warning Order for the 2013 DLI Reunion was recently dispatched to all branches; please ensure that members are made aware of the contents and that all target dates for bids are adhered to.

For internet viewers of this Bulletin the DLI Reunion will take place on Sunday 8 September 2013 in Durham. The programme is will be as follows:

1145 hrs Assemble on Palace Green.

1200 hrs Parade and March Past of all Branches on Palace Green, followed  by a short service in the Regimental Chapel in the Cathedral when the Roll of Honour for 2012/13 will be called.

1339 hrs Lunch at the College of St Hild and St Bede.

A charge of £13.00 will be made for lunch, tickets which can be ordered on 0191 3865496.

42.13 NORMANDY TOUR – JUNE 2014

Applications to join the Association’s Normandy Tour have been encouraging but the lack of Branch interest is surprising and The Rifles County Secretary is anxious that every branch should be represented on this Memorial Tour. Branches may wish to consider sending their Standard Bearer, at least, and to subsidize him if necessary. Application forms are available from The Rifles Durham Office.

43.13 BRITISH KOREAN VETERANS ASSOCIATION

LAYING UP OF STANDARD

The Durham & Cleveland Branch of the BKVA have advised that the will be Laying Up their Standard in Staindrop Parish Church on the 28^th of August 2013. The Service will be followed by a free buffet lunch in Staindrop Scarth Hall and all are welcome. Actual times to be confirmed.

44,13 CHRISTMAS CARDS 2013

The DLI Association 2013 Christmas Card is now available. The card this year features Major John Reed of the 68^th who served in the Regiment from 1799 until 1830 and was seriously wounded 200 years ago at the Battle of Vittoria during the Peninsular War It is a reproduction of the portrait which was presented to Regimental Headquarters by the Officer’s Mess of The Regimental Depot and now hangs in The Rifles Durham Office. The cards are 65p each and can be ordered through branch secretaries or by telephone on 0191 3865496.

45.13 DLIMUSEUM – DURHAM COUNTY BRASS BAND CONTEST

On Sunday 7^th of July 2013 there will be an ALL DAY Brass Band Contest in the grounds of the DLI Museum commencing at 1000 hrs. Admission is FREE and the museum café will be open for various refreshments including their now famous ice creams. It will be a wonderful atmosphere for family picnics and members are invited to take advantage of what will be a superb day’s entertainment.

46.13 ROLL OF HONOUR

The death of the following member was reported to the Rifles Durham Office since the last Bulletin:

Mr. Wilf Emmerson - 1LI

Wilf was secretary of the Darlington & Newton  Aycliffe Branch. As becomes a veteran of The Intelligence

Corps, he was a first class administrator and the type of member that the Association could ill afford to lose.

May he Rest in Peace

 

Kevin Storey BEM

Secretary

Elvet Waterside

Light Infantry Reunion 2013

A report from the front line by Lt. Col. J.R. Heron.

The Light Infantry Reunion was held at Copthorne Barracks, Shrewsbury on 8^th June 1013.   There was a good DLI presence there for the Reunion parade with around 30 marching and many more who are passed the stage of being able to march seated or standing around the parade ground.  The parade and March Past, DLI contingent led by Major Chris Lawton, was followed by a Sounding of Retreat by the Band and Bugles of the Rifles. For many the reunion had begun on the Friday.  The coach from Chester-le-Street set off early picking up members of the DLI Association from around the county.  They arrived in time to benefit from the many bars, taverns and clubs in Shrewsbury which look forward each year to the Association weekend.  The hospitality tent at Copthorne Barracks was open from early evening and I am told that there was up to 800 sampling the beers on Friday evening.  We should remember that this is actually the Light Infantry Reunion and in addition to the County contingents there were many former soldiers of 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Battalions the Light Infantry. 

On Saturday morning followed the Bligny Service where the Cross de Guerre worn on the uniforms of all soldiers of the Rifles was won by the 4^th Bn Kings Shropshire Light Infantry on 6^th June 1918 when they recaptured and held a ridge defended in strength by the German Army was celebrated.  For the rest of the day there were the usual tents with stalls and memorabilia, but it is not surprising that the most popular locations were the beer tents and the tables outside where members could sit in the sun and drink the amber liquid and renew old friendships.  For many the day ended at the all ranks dinner for members and their ladies, where after the meal the songs of the former regiments were sung with gusto.

DLI Museum and Durham Art Gallery Talk

Recording Britain Saturday 8 June 2pm

Senior Curator of Prints at the Victoria and Albert Museum, Gill Saunders will be speaking on the Recording Britain exhibition showing in Durham Art Gallery.
The drawings and watercolours were commissioned to record the British landscape at the outbreak of World War Two.
Capturing images of vulnerable buildings, landscapes and lifestyles at a time of immense change, it features the work of more than 90 artists.

Tickets, priced £3 are available in advance from the DLI shop or by calling 03000 266590.

We will also be offering a free guided tour of the exhibition on Monday 17th June at 12.30pm.