The Durham Light Infantry Association

Monthly Bulletin, July 2015

 

51. DURHAM CATHEDRAL FESTIVAL OF REMEMBRANCE – 7 NOVEMBER 2015

1. Durham Cathedral Festival of Remembrance to be held in the Cathedral takes place on 7 November this year, as organised by Major Ian Ingram and Mr Arthur Lockyear. The Association is hoping that as many Durham Light Infantry Association standards as possible will be available to take part in this. It is a good occasion to keep the Association in the public eye, and it is hoped there will be other individual members of the Association who will be able to attend the service in support. An invitation to all Standard Branch Standard Bearers has been issued. The Standard Bearers would muster at the Durham Cathedral Festival of Remembrance on the afternoon and evening of Saturday 7^th November. A meal will be provided between rehearsal and event. It is hoped that all branches will do their best to give this their support.

2. For those branches who have standards able to attend should contact Arthur Lockyear on 0191 373 2035 or by E mail on artemusaiki(at)aol.com for further details.

3. Additionally a note to the Secretary DLI Association to inform him is requested

52. BROADCAST OF THE 30 000^th PLAYING OF THE LAST POST AT THE MENIN GATE, YPRES – 9 JULY 2015

    1. The attendance by members of the DLI Association and their wives, partners etc at Durham Community Fire Station on 9^th July for the broadcast of the 300,000^th playing of the last Post at the Menin Gate was a successful event. There were more than 40 members of the Association present. Lt Col Heron presented Mr Alan Patterson with a ‘Tommy’ as a mark of the special relationship existing between the Fire Station and the Association. There was also a good turnout of members at the Darlington Fire Station for the same event. This went well despite the fact that the broadcast from Ypres was unsuccessful.

52. 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. Counterfoils and cash are coming in. I would remind secretaries of my request to return all tickets not likely to be sold to the Secretary for re-distribution.

52. DURHAM PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY’S REQUEST TO THE ASSOCIATION FOR WW2 VETERANS TO VOLUNTEER TO BE PHOGRAPHED BY THE SOCIETY

    1. The Durham Photographic Society has had little or no response to its request for members of the Association to volunteer to be photographed for their records. Remember that the photographer with attend the residence of the WW2 veteran at his convenience to take the photographs.

    2. Many branches still have WW2 veterans and all that is required from each is a name and contact telephone number.

52. FINAL ISSUE OF THE DURHAM BUGLE

    1. Some packs of the final issue of the Durham Bugle are still awaiting collection at the Rifles Office Durham. Secretaries are asked to collect them at their earliest convenience.

52. 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. Ceremonies of commemoration will take place at each location. Support from DLI Association Branches and Standard Bearers will be requested when details are known about teach ceremony.

52. DEATHS REPORTED

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

Albert Victor Walkington, born 20 December 1922, died 24 June 2015 aged 93.He served for WW2 duration in the DLI and in the Parachute Regiment and was demobilized after peacekeeping duties in Palestine

Major John Bryan Tonkinson (‘Tonk’) MBE. Born 13 November 1928 died July 2015. He served with 1 DLI in Berlin, Korea (as Adjutant), 6 DLI as Adjutant, Brigade Adjutant (DAAG) Light Division, GSO2 to Gen Sir Michael Carver in MOD. Former President Durham & Cleveland Branch BKVA.

Albert Hedley born: 3 Oct 1930 died: 14 July 2015. He served: with 1 DLI in Berlin & Korea and was a member of the Durham & Cleveland Branch of BKVA and  the Durham Branch DLI Association

May They Rest in Peace

Elvet Waterside

Durham

27 July 2015

Museum Military Talk

Saturday 18 July - 2pm

The DLI in the Peninsular War - Dr Mark Thompson

Mark Thompson returns to the DLI to speak on the early years of the Durham Light Infantry from their formation in 1756 through to the end of the Peninsular War in 1814. The Napoleonic Wars were a period of great hardship and change for the 68th Foot.
We will also be welcoming on Saturday soldiers from the 68th DLI Society who will be at the museum in their Napoleonic War uniforms meeting and greeting visitors.

Talk tickets £3.50 (plus admission), available now from the DLI shop or by calling 03000 266590.

The 30,000th time the Last Post is sounded at Menin Gate in Ypres

On Thursday 9 July, the 30,000 Last Post was sounded under the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium, to commemorate the fallen soldiers of the First World War.The event was streamed on the internet and was hosted in many fire stations throughout the country, including six in county Durham.

At the new fire station on the outskirts of Durham city veterans and guests started to arrive at 18:00 hrs. Light refreshments were provided by the Royal British Legion and there was a display of wartime  artefacts. The event ran  smoothly and was a very moving occasion

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LINK to all photos