The Durham Light Infantry Association

Monthly Bulletin May 2015

34. DLI Executive Meeting –
    
    1. The next DLI Executive Meeting will take place on Wednesday 10 June 2015 at 1400 hrs at the Rifles (Durham) Office.
       
    2. All branches of the Association should send at least one representative to the meeting.
       
    3. The Agenda is as follows

1. To make a list of those attending the meeting
   
2. The Exhortation to be spoken by the Chairman
   
3. To receive any apologies for absence
   
4. To agree the minutes of the ordinary meeting held 12 November 2014
   
5. To discuss any matters arising from those minutes
   
6. To receive an update of the arrangements for the DLI Reunion
   
7. To receive any bids for the holding of 2016 Indoor Games
   
8. To receive a report on the Light Infantry Reunion 5-6 June 2015.
   
9. Any Other Business

4. Relevant papers will be made available at the meeting

34. THE COMMEMORATION OF THE LIBERATION OF THE VILLAGE OF SINT JOOST.
    
    1. The last Monthly Bulletin Commemoration reported that no members were travelling to Sint Joost for the Commemoration of the battle the Liberation of the village of Sint Joost where the DLI lost a number of 9 Bn DLI men KIA during 20-21 Jan 1945. This report was wrong. The Durham Light Infantry was represented at the ceremony by Colin Laverick of the Consett and Stanley Branch DLI Association.
       
    2. A proposal will be made to make a financial donation to Colin Laverick of the Consett and Stanley Branch who represented the Durham Light Infantry at the Ceremony in Sint Joost.

34. CENTENARY OF THE BATTLE OF GRAVESTAFEL RIDGE
    
    1. Members of the 8 &11 Battalions DLI Old Comrades Association, the DLI Association Chaplain Rev Kenneth Crawford, the College Chaplain Rev Stephen Sandham, commemorated the centenary of this action with the students of the College of Hild-Bede on the college lawn beginning at 1815 hrs, followed by a Retreat. The music for the Ceremony and the Retreat was provided by the Band & Bugles of the Durham Army Cadet Force. A reception in college for college alumni and the Annual Dinner of the 8 & 11 Bns DLI OCA in the Gilesgate Armoury followed. The 8/11^th President being unable to attend owing to a family bereavement the wreath was laid by Lt Col JR Heron TD as both a former member of the College of the Venerable Bede and a former DLI Officer. Two members of the college, Kirsty McLaren (President of the SRC) and her deputy Kishen Vora attended the 8/11^th Bn OCA Annual Diner to celebrate the close links which there have always been between the college and the DLI.

34. LIGHT INFANTRY REUNION – Fri 5 - Sat 6 June 2015

1. The Light Infantry Reunion will take place this year at the Greenhaus Stadium, Shrewsbury on 5 & 6 June 2015. Members who are proposing to attend must ensure they have with them the relevant tickets for the Reunion, as the staff hosting the event have no knowledge of the Members of the LI Association or the Regiment and entry will be refused if the relevant tickets are not available.
   
2. The final opportunity to hand in counterfoils for the Annual Draw must be handed in at the latest on Sat 6 June. The Draw will be made at the Annual All Rank Association Dinner.

37. DLI ASSOCIATION DRAW TICKETS 2015
    
    1. DLI Association Draw Tickets (Initially 25 books for each branch) will be made available to Branch Secretaries at the meeting. Secretaries are reminded that these Draw Tickets are a major source of income to the Association and that Association members should be encouraged to sell as many books of tickets as they can.
       
    2. Major Association events depend very much for their finance on sales of these tickets. Further tickets, if required, will be available from the Admin Officer, Shirley Nicholson.

37. FINAL ISSUE OF THE DURHAM BUGLE
    
    1. Packs of the final edition (No 30) of the Durham Bugle in its present form are now ready for collection by branch secretaries from the Rifles Office, Durham. With each copy of the Durham Bugle there is a letter explaining the position with regard to the final edition.
       
    2. Sadly, the Editor of the Bugle from its first edition, Major Donald McDonald, has retired. Mr Peter Nelson, the Production Editor has also resigned, though he is continuing his work for the DLI Museum Friends in other ways. Major Mike Van der Gucht is continuing with the Durham Bugle title as a newsletter which will be published around 6 times a year. It will deal with current events. He looks for your support in this venture.
       
    3. The Durham Bugle newsletter will initially be distributed by email.

37. COMMEMORATION OF THE BATTLE OF LOOS
    
    1. The Secretary has been informed of this commemoration of the Battle of Loos in which 2^nd Bn DLI played a prominent part. If any member or branch is interested in attending this event, as detailed below, please inform the Secretary immediately. Please note: There is no funding available to support this venture.
       
    2. Centenary of the Battle of Loos 26^th September 2015
       
    3. The Federation of OCA’s of the London Territorial and Auxiliary Units in conjunction with the London Irish Rifles Association, The London Scottish Regimental Association and representative of the Western Front Association are currently planning a pilgrimage to Loos to commemorate the centenary of that Battle (25^th/27^th September) to commemorate the gallant efforts of the British Army and pay homage to the considerable losses incurred a programme of events has been agreed with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the local civic authorities for Saturday 26^th September 2015.
       
    4. The Mayor of Loos-en-Gohelle, on behalf of the local community, is keen to join with us in recognition of the sacrifice made to preserve their town from enemy occupation.
       
    5. The programme of events is likely be as follows (all times approximate and to be confirmed):

• Briefing for Regimental representatives
  
• Form up in CWGC British Military Cemetery Loos
  
• Drumhead Service and Act of Remembrance including wreath laying from Regimental representatives.
  
• Parade forms up comprising representatives of participating Regiments/Regimental Associations. Standard bearers at the fore behind the military band. Parade commander will be a serving officer from the London Regiment.
  
• Joint Service of Remembrance at French War Memorial, Loos.
  
• Parade marches to civic reception.
  
• Civic reception hosted by Maire of Loos. Speeches and presentations.
  
• End of formal programme.

37. VC COMMEMORATIVE STONES

1. The VC commemorative stones which will celebrate the award of the Victoria Cross to all British soldiers are being distributed to local authorities at the present time. There are a significant number of these to be placed within the boundaries of the former County of Durham, not all of them commemorating DLI soldiers.
   
2. Arrangements are currently being made by local authorities, family members and military representatives as to how and where they will be placed in each area. Association Branches will certainly be able to play a part in the ceremonies of commemoration. Branches will be kept in the picture.

37. DEATHS REPORTED
    
    1. The first six of these deaths should have been notified earlier. The others have been reported since the last bulletin
       
    2. Tommy Calvert,Died 8 April 2015. He served 1 DLI Berlin, Hong Kong, Colchester
       Brian Coulson died 17 February 2015. He served LI in Burma Band and Bugles
       Lt Richard England died 17 March 2015. Served 8 Bn DLI
       Joe Henry Falcus died February 2015.National Serviceman with the DLI and Served in Royal Artillery, then became a DLI Regular
       Laurie Guthrie died March 2015. Served with DLI in Egypt in1954
       William Oliphant died April 2015. He Service 1 DLI andwas RSM’s driver in 1958 at Barnard Castle
       Derrick Charles Whitehead died 20 February aged 90Served DCLI and the 9DLI.Landed on Gold Beach 6 June 1944. He attended Normandy Landings Celebration for the 40^th, 60^th, 63^rd and 65^th Anniversaries.
       Eddie Slack, died Monday 4 May.He served with the DLI in Hong Kong and was a member of Horden & Peterlee Branch.
       Bernard Ord died on 7 May.
       
    3. May they Rest in Peace
38. 
39. Elvet Waterside
    Durham
    26 May 2015