Monday 29 June 2015

The Durham Light Infantry Association

Monthly Bulletin June 2015

DLI Executive Meeting – took take place on Wednesday 10 June 2015 at 1400 hrs at the Rifles (Durham) Office. Branches should have received copies of the minutes by now.

      1. The Secretary has concerns that not all branches of the Association were represented at the meeting on 10 June 2015. Branch Secretaries are asked to do their best to ensure that they have a representative at Executive meetings. Important business is transacted there and if branches have no representative present they cannot contribute to decisions made.

      2. A decision was made to make a financial donation of £100 to Colin Laverick of the Consett and Stanley Branch who represented the Durham Light Infantry at the Ceremony in Sint Joost.

    1. 30 000th PLAYING OF THE LAST POST AT THE MENIN GATE, IEPER (YPRES) IN BELGIUM

      1. Secretaries are reminded that they were asked to inform the Association Secretaries of the numbers of their members who are attending commemorative broadcasts of this ceremony at various locations in the county. (Consett, Darlington, Durham, Peterlee, Bishop Auckland, Spennymoor). It is hoped that as many branch standards as possible will parade at the Durham Community Fire Station at Lanchester Road, Durham. As the ceremony takes place on 9 July it is important that information about attendance is received as soon as possible so that the information can be sent on to the locations.

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

      1. The Light Infantry Reunion was held this year at the Greenhous Meadow Stadium, Shrewsbury on 5 & 6 June 2015.

      2. Attendance figures showed that around 2800 members attended.

      3. There were some teething problems as might be expected the first time a new facility is used but in general the location was acceptable.

      4. The Association of Light Infantry and Rifles Buglers played their part in the ceremony and gave a very good account of

      5. The date for the Annual Reunion of the Light Infantry in 2016 has been published as 17 and 18 June.

    1. DLI ASSOCIATION DRAW TICKETS 2015

      1. DLI Association Draw Tickets (Initially 25 books for each branch) were made available to Branch Secretaries at the DLI Executive Committee Meeting.

      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.

      3. Some draw tickets remain to be collected by branches who were unrepresented at the meeting.

      4. Branch Secretaries who are aware of any tickets allocated to them which they feel they have little chance of selling should be returned to the Rifles Office as soon as possible.

    1. FINAL ISSUE OF THE DURHAM BUGLE

      1. Packs of the final edition (No 30) of the Durham Bugle in its present form were placed for collection by branch secretaries from the Rifles Office, Durham.

      2. Each copy of the Durham Bugle was accompanied by a letter from the Chairman explaining the circumstances behind the ending of the Durham Bugle in this form. 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.

    1. BLIND VETERANS UK

      1. General Sir Peter de la Billiere, a former DLI Officer and Commander of British Forces in the first Gulf War is encouraging as many veterans who feel they would like to do so to contribute to Blind Veterans UK, to support former servicemen and women who have been blinded as a result of their military service. Further details of the ways that contributions can be made will be emailed to branches shortly.

      2. It is a worthy cause and it is hoped that members of the DLI Association can support General Sir Peter in his work.

    1. 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.

    1. DEATHS REPORTED

      1. These death have been reported to the Rifles Office since the publication of last month’s bulletin.

William ‘Billy’ Waites died 14 April 2015 aged 84. Billy served with 1st Bn DLI in Dec 1951 in the Assault Pioneer Platoon. He also served in Korea 1952-1953, transferring into the 8th Bn in Jan 1954.He was a member of Houghton-le-Spring Branch DLI Association.

Brian Shaw, died 1 June 2015 Served with 1DLI & later with the Military Police.

Albert Hawkes died 16 June 2015. Served with SCLI in the Recce Pl

May They Rest in Peace

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Elvet Waterside

Durham

26 June 2015

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