Durham Light Infantry Friends: The Durham Light Infantry Association

Monthly Bulletin April 2015

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE DLI ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE

The Annual General Meeting of the DLI Association Executive took place on 15 April 2015 at 1400 hrs at the Rifles Office, Durham.
The Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer were present.
13 branches were represented. They were Bishop Auckland, Chester-le-Street, City of Sunderland, Consett & Stanley, Darlington & Newton Aycliffe, Durham, Gateshead & Newcastle, Houghton-le-Spring, Ryhope & Silksworth, South Shields, Spennymoor, Stockton, Washington.
Apologies were received from Horden & Peterlee.
The minutes of the meeting will be distributed separately in due course after confirmation.

THE RESULTS OF DLI ASSOCIATION INDOOR GAMES

The Indoor Games took place on 22 March 2015 at Dubmire Royal British Legion Club at Fence Houses.
139 members had expressed an intention of attending and 121 meals were booked and prepared.
The following branches attended: Bishop Auckland, Chester-le-Street, Consett & Stanley, Durham, Gateshead & Newcastle, Hartlepool, Houghton-le-Spring, South Shields, Spennymoor, Stockton-on-Tees, Sunderland.

DISCIPLINES RESULT

In 2015 the Overall Winners trophy was shared by Chester-le-Street and Houghton-le-Spring
RAFFLE

The winning numbers were, in order: 212, 954, 1040, 278, 75, 875, 671, 141, 4, 304, 637, 1074

THANKS WERE GIVEN BY THE CHAIRMAN AS FOLLOWS:
To the Houghton-le-Spring Branch for preparing the venue and for making all the arrangements.; to the Dubmire RBL Club, Fence Houses for providing the venue and preparing all the food and to the umpires for the various matches, to the Darts Scorers, to all the branches for donating the raffle prizes to all the members and their wives/partners for attending and making it such an enjoyable day.
LOOK FORWARD TO 2016
This year The Dominoes Trophy was not returned for the 2015 competition. Please note that all trophies must be returned each year in an engraved and polished condition to the Rifles Office immediately for presentation to the next winning team.

EVENTS TO MARK THE 70^th ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF BERGEN-BELSEN CONCENTRATION CAMP

The camp was liberated on 18 April 1945 by 113 Regt RA which had formerly been the 2/5^th Bn DLI. It is therefore fitting that the Association took part in both ceremonies.
INTEROPERA CONCERT - DARKNESS INTO LIGHT - IN DURHAM CATHEDRAL on 18 APRIL 2015. A grand concert of appropriate classical music, arranged by the organisation INTEROPERA celebrated the Liberation of Bergen-Belsen in April 1945. As part of the concerta representative party of two WW2 DLI Association Veterans, Colonel Alex Johnson and Mr Thomas Coyne and two DLI Association Standard Bearers, Mr Steve Robson and Mr Brian Anderson processed down the aisle of Durham Cathedral to Verdi’s Grand March from Aida, ahead of a party of children representing the children of the shoe commando of Bergen-Belsen camp, carrying shoes representing the shoes that the children of Belsen were required to make. It was an impressive and moving concert with Dame Ester Rantzen and Kevin Whately taking a leading part.
GATESHEAD JEWISH COMMUNITY AND GATESHEAD & NEWCASTLE BRANCH DLI ASSOCIATION A commemorative event with took place on the morning of 19 April 2015 at Gateshead Central Library. During this ceremony Lt Col John Heron and Lt Col Ted Kemp made a presentation about the part played by 113 Regt RA(TA) formerly 2/5^th Battalion DLI in the liberation of the camp.

VISIT BY THE DLI ASSOCUIATION TO CATTERICK GARRISON INFANTRY TRAINING CENTRE

The date of the Association visit to the Pass-off Parade for the Rifles Platoon at the Infantry Training Centre at Catterick Garrison was notified previously to branches as Fri 29 May 2015. The visit will conclude with a lunch at the Sgts’ Mess. Branches planning to attend should send approximate numbers as soon as possible to the Association Secretary at the Rifles Office Durham but not later than Thu 30 April 2015 so that the proper catering arrangements can be made.

LIGHT INFANTRY REUNION – Sat 6 June 2015

15.30.01 Members who are proposing to travel to the Light Infantry Reunion on the Association Coach must get their bids for places into the Chester-le-Street Branch as soon as possible. The coach will leave on Fri 5 June and return on Sunday 7 June.

LIBERATION OF SINT JOOST

As far as the Rifles Office is aware there have been no bids to attend the celebrations at the village of Sint Joost in the Netherlands which was liberated 70 years ago from Nazi occupation (20-21 Jan 45) by 9^th Bn DLI.

CENTENARY OF THE BATTLE OF GRAVENSTAFEL RIDGE ON 25 APRIL 1915

Members of the 8 &11 Battalions DLI Old Comrades Association will commemorate this action in which students of the College of the Venerable Bede, who formed the Bede Contingent of 8^th Bn the Durham Light Infantry at the 2^nd Battle of Ypres will remember the former students of the college at the Gravenstafel War Memorial on the Hild-Bede college lawn beginning at 1815 hrs, followed by a celebration dinner in the Gilesgate Armoury.
This action took place over 25-26 April 1915 in which 8^th Battalion DLI lost 574 NCOs & men as well as 19 officers. Alongside the Canadians of the Winnipeg Rifles they held the ridge long enough for a defensive line to be formed and occupied behind them.
Music for the Ceremony and the Retreat will be provided by the Band & Bugles of the Durham Army Cadet Force

DEATHS REPORTED THIS MONTH

15.32.01 The following deaths have been reported to The Rifles Office since the last bulletin.

Mr Terrence (Tex) Beech Died Monday 30 March aged 70 years.He served wit KSLI and 3 LI

Tommy Calvert.No details

Mr Peter Downey A WW2 Veteran who took part in the Normandy Landings on 6 June 1944 and served through the rest of the war with the KOYLI and the DLI

Mr David Connelly,a 90 year veteran who served in UK, Borneo, Cyprus, and Germany with KOYLI. A long-time member of the Stockton Branch DLI Association.

May they Rest in Peace.