Sounding of the Retreat

The annual Sounding of the Retreat Ceremony took place at the war memorial at the college of St Hild & St Bede on Saturday 26^th April. The event was attended by the deputy mayor of Durham councillor Jan Blakey, representatives of the college and DLI veterans. The annual act of remembrance which commemorates the sacrifice made by ‘Bede Company’, the eighth battalion of the Durham Light Infantry during the second battle of Ypres at Gravenstafel Ridge and others during the remainder of the Great War.

After a short but moving service, the Band & Bugles of the Durham Army Cadet Force concluded the formal part of the event. The assembled then made their way to the college for a buffet or the TA centre for dinner.

LINK to all photos

Link to video clip 1

Link to video clip 2

Link to video clip 3

The Durham Light Infantry Association

Monthly Bulletin April 2014

 

30. LI Executive AGM

14.30.01 Notification is given of the next DLI Executive Meeting which will take place at the Rifles Office (Durham) at 1400 on Wed 18 Jun3 2014.

30. 2014 Indoor Games – Report

1. The Games took place on 23 March 2014 at the Sunderland Victory Club hosted by the City of Sunderland Branch

2. 142 members expressed an intention of attending and 123 meals were booked and prepared.

3. The following branches attended: Bishop Auckland, Chester-le-Street, Consett & Stanley, Durham, Gateshead & Newcastle, Hartlepool, Horden & Peterlee, Houghton-le-Spring, South Shields, Spennymoor, Stockton-on-Tees, Sunderland.

4. RESULTS       Click on panel to enlarge

1. RAFFLE

The winning numbers were, in order : 632, 930, 310, 353, 655, 594, 197, 279, 620, 231, 708, 297, 675, 952, 792, 696, 510, 969

2. THANKS

3. Thanks to:

4. The City of Sunderland Branch for preparing the venue and for making all the arrangements.

5. the Sunderland victory Club for providing the venue and preparing all the food.

6. Mr Appleby for his work as announcer and for leading the post competition singing.

7. the match umpires, Eddie Surtees (Darts), Rob Newton (Dominoes) and Frank Brannigan (Whist) for all their hard work and for sorting out difficulties and disputes.

8. Michael McMahon for his work at the results table, assisted by Billy G, Mr Hedley and Alfie Norman.

9. the Darts Scorers: Diane McConnell and Colin Dodds.

10. Maj Paul Wharton for presenting the awards.

11. the branches for donating the raffle prizes.

12. the members and their wives/partners for attending and making it such an enjoyable day.

13. LOOK FORWARD

14. Branches winning any trophy must ensure that it is properly inscribed with the Branch name and date, and that it is returned clean and polished to the 2015 Indoor Games.

30. LI Reunion 2014 6-8 June 2014

1. Branches have received the General Instruction for the Light Infantry Reunion 2014 which will be held for the last time at Copthorne Barracks, Shrewsbury. Applications to attend should be made by branches or individuals by the due date. It would be helpful if Light Infantry Draw counterfoils and receipts be sent to the organiser by 5 June 2014, cheques made payable to Light Infantry and Rifles Association Draw.

30. Anzac Day

1. An invitation has been received from the Mayor of Zonnebeke for any member to attend the commemoration of Anzac Day Friday 25 April 2014. Any member interested in attending should contact the Secretary as soon as possible. Includes Dawn Service and Breakfast.

30. Royal Star & Garter Homes – WW1 Battlefields Trek

1. Notification has been received by this office of a Battlefields Trek to commemorate the start of the First World War. The 3 day sponsored event takes place in September 2014, walking through Northern France and Belgium. As well as being a physical challenge it provides participants with a unique perspective of the prominent battle site of the Ypres Salient, often tracing the line of the western Front itself. Anyone interested should contact Lucy Davis, Community & Events Organiser Royal Star & Garter Homes on 0208 843 8013 or lucy.davis@starandgarter.org The Association Secretary has further details if required.

30. The following Deaths have been notified:

14.33.01 Thomas Henry Dobson Consett & Stanley Branch Dec 2013

Lawrence Dobson Consett & Stanley Branch 31 Dec 2013

Leslie Oswald Pte, 4460660 on or around 24 March 2014 aged 97 years. Served in the Burma Campaign, probably with 2 DLI.

Alfred Tyers died during month of April at the age of 96. Alfred served with 6DLI during WW2 and was eventually captured and became a POW.

Stan Jarvis Served with 2DLI in WUPPERTAL, then with 8DLI  D Coy at Houghton where he went from Cpl to CSjt, 1966 to Houghton and Hetton detachment Durham ACF. He always attended the 8/11^th parades and activities.

Pauline Burini Wife of the late Lt Col Eric Burini, mother of Michael Burini, Secretary Durham Branch DLI Association on Wednesday 16 April 2014.

May they Rest in Peace

 

Elvet Waterside

27 April 2014

Military Talks 2014

19th April

The Role of the Royal Engineers in the Peninsular Wars; by Mark Thompson.

The wider role the Royal Engineers took in the Peninsular war including reconnaissance, fortification, staff and communications work. It will also re-evaluate their performance during the sieges and reassess their contribution to the war.

Tickets cost £3.00 for each talk (plus admission charges) and are available in advance from the DLI Shop or by calling us on 03000 266590.

We also have more commemorative events planned taking place throughout 2014 - visit our website over the coming weeks for more details.

The Cleveland Branch of the WFA Meeting 15th April

The BEF’s Infantry Commanding Officers of August 1914 – Peter Hodgkinson

The British Army officer of the Edwardian era has been the subject of much criticism. But who were the men who took the battalions of the BEF to France and Flanders in 1914? What was their experience? How able were they? Are the criticisms fair?

Meetings take place at the Royal Navy Club, William Street Stockton.

and commence at 8.00pm, members and non-members welcome.

The Purchase of Photographs Reminder

We have set up the facility to purchase photographs featured in the Gallery page, the first two albums featured are the 2012 DLI Reunion and the unveiling of the DLI Memorial at the National Arboretum in July. If you would like any other image from the Gallery page to be added use the contact details on the Photo Box site to send details of the one required.

All profit from the sales will go to the DLI Museum Friends and the DLI Association.

http://www.photoboxgallery.com/dlimuseumfriends