The Durham Light Infantry Association

Monthly Bulletin October 2015

89. VC COMMEMORATIVE STONES

1. VC commemorative paving stones are being placed at various points throughout the country associated with the home areas of the VC recipients on the 100^th anniversary of the award of their VC. Many will be within the ancient County of Durham, which for administrative purposes is now split into numerous county boroughs. Many of the VC Paving stones will be placed outside the administrative jurisdiction of Durham County, and it will be easy not be aware of the ceremonies associated with them. They will be associated with recipients of many cap badges; not all Durham Light Infantrymen. We must therefore be vigilant in ensuring that our local branches do not miss any of the DLI commemorations. It would be helpful if branch secretaries inform the Association Secretary when they are aware of a commemoration taking place. Unfortunately one associated with a Durham Light Infantryman was not reported in last month’s bulletin. It is reported below. We must ensure that this does not happen again.

89. PRESENTATION OF THE INSIGNIA OF THE LEGION D’HONNEUR

    1. You will no doubt be aware that some of the DLI Veterans who fought in the Normandy Landings and in the Battle for France in 1944 have now received their insignia of the Legion d’Honneur. For those who wish it these are being formally presented by the French Consul at the Festival of Remembrance taking place within Durham Cathedral on 7 November. Anyone wishing to attend needs to apply for tickets at the Gala Theatre Box Office, They are priced at £18 (nave) or £10 (transept).

89. DEDICATION OF A MEMORIAL TO THE FALLEN OF THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918 AT HARTLEPOOL NORTH CEMETERY 10 OCTOBER 2015

    1. Members of the Durham Light Infantry Association from Hartlepool, Stockton and Consett & Stanley attended the dedication of a Memorial to the Fallen of 1914–1918 in Hartlepool North Cemetery on 10 October 2015. The new memorial was provided by the CWGC, Hartlepool Council and the Friends of North Cemetery. 14 standards from ex-service organisations were paraded including that of Hartlepool Branch DLI Association carried by Terry Phillips Secretary and that of Stockton Branch carried by John Hope. The Dedication was conducted by the Revd Dobson Heron, former Chaplain to the 7^Th Bn LI, assisted by the Chaplain to Hartlepool Missions to Seafarers Colin Worswick, in the presence of HM’s Lord Lieutenant for the County of Durham Mrs Sue Snowdon, the Ceremonial Mayor of Hartlepool Mrs Fleet, the MP for Hartlepool Mr Iain Wright, the Commonwealth War Graves Commissioner Mr Kevan Jones MP, officials from the Friends of Hartlepool North Cemetery, Cllrs Christopher Akers Belcher and the Council Leader Cllr Stephen Akers Belcher, as well as cadets from Hartlepool Sea Cadet Corps, Hartlepool Royal Marine Cadets, Cleveland Army Cadet Force and Air Training Corps. Music for the occasion was provided by the Band & Bugles of the Durham Army Cadet Force. The Parade Commander was Lt Col (Retd) John Heron TD, DLI Association Secretary, who had worked with Irene Cross of Hartlepool Borough Council to provide the administrative support for the day.

89. WARNING ORDER – DLI ASSOCIATION ORDINARY EXECUTIVE MEETING

    1. The next Ordinary Executive Meeting of the DLI Executive will take place on Wednesday 18 November 2015 at 1400 hrs at the Rifles Office Durham

    2. The agenda is below:

AGENDA

1. To receive any apologies for absence.

2. To make a presentation to the previous Association Secretary Mr Kevin Storey BEM

3. To agree the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 10 June 2015.

4. To discuss any matters arising from those minutes.

5. To receive observations on the Annual Reunion 2015.

6. To receive the Chairman’s Annual Report 2015

7. To confirm date and venue of the Indoor Games 2016.

8. To confirm the date of the 2016 AGM – (6 April/13 April/20/ April/27 April)

9. Any Other Business

3. Branches are asked to ensure they have a representative available for the meeting.

89. WARNING ORDER – ANNUAL BRANCH FINANCIAL RETURNS

15.92.01 Branches should submit their Annual Financial Returns for the period 1 Jan 2015 – 31 December 2015 to the Secretary by Friday 19 February 2016.

15.92.02 They should be in the usual format. The Secretary will send out the proformae in the near future.

89. WARNING ORDER – ANNUAL BRANCH STRENGTH RETURNS

    1. Branches should submit their Annual Strength Returns as at 31 December 2014 by Friday 19 February 2016

    2. The strength return should be broken down into the following. Each member is to fit one category only

• Former Members of the DLI

• Former members of the Light Infantry

• Former or continuing members of the Rifles

• Former or continuing members of other capbadges of arms of the services

• Members with no service

89. ORDERING OF WREATHS FOR REMEMBRANCE DAY

    1. Branch Secretaries are reminded that if they require DLI, LI or Rifles Wreaths to lay on Remembrance Day they should order them in plenty of time from the Rifles Office Durham. They are priced at £18.50.

89. DEATHS REPORTED

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

Bugler Gordon (Fred) Liddle1 DLI  1950-1968 (70 years old)

Mr Roy Fry ex 2LI and Chairman of the LI and Rifles Association Oswestry Branch died on Sunday 4 October 2015,aged 64.

Geoff Dunn died Saturday 3rd October in Bedford Hospital. Having  felt unwell on Wednesday evening,

May They Rest in Peace

Elvet Waterside

Durham

16 Oct 2015

Bowburn Local History Society: Poppy Project

A Project to honour the memory of men from Bowburn who lost their lives in WWI is almost at an end with the installation of the commemorative poppies on the houses where the soldiers once lived but did not return. This project was inspired by Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service watch manager  Michael Burdon, two of whose great uncles left the same house in Clarence Street, Bowburn, but did not return, having lost their lives on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, on 1st July 1916.

The evening ended with regimental Sergeant Major John Thompson, of the Fifth Fusiliers, reading a poem and Colour Sgt Dick Stacey played The Last Post before a minute’s silence was observed.

LINK to all photos

Councillors to discuss future of DLI collection

 

Plans to make artefacts and exhibits held at the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Museum available to a wider audience will be discussed by councillors next week.

A report on the future of the DLI collection, which is currently housed at the museum in Durham City, is to be presented to Durham County Council's Cabinet.

The collection belongs to the Trustees of the Regimental and Chattels Charity of the Former Durham Light Infantry and the Regimental Museum of the Former Durham Light Infantry but is under the care of the council.

However, the way in which it is currently stored is both expensive and inefficient. The building is expensive to maintain as a museum and requires significant investment, while the secure stores are no longer able to accommodate the size of the collection.

 

More accessible to the public

The council is, therefore, proposing to move the collection to the Sevenhills building in Spennymoor, where secure, environmentally-controlled accommodation of a more suitable size could be provided.

The authority also wants to make the collection more accessible to the public by working with partner organisations to arrange temporary loans and exhibitions.

The council has already been in discussion with Durham University over the possibility of a five-year agreement that would see part of the collection on display at Palace Green Library.

Under the arrangement, a further five DLI-related temporary displays, beginning with a large-scale Somme exhibition, would also take place.

The museum's education programme would be maintained in order to support the story of the DLI and would operate as an outreach function from Sevenhills.

The proposals have been broadly welcomed by the DLI Trustees, who are keen to ensure a sustainable future for the collection.

 

Preserve for future generations

Cllr Neil Foster, Durham County Council's Cabinet member for economic regeneration and culture, said: "The story of the DLI is central to the history of the county so it is extremely important that the collection is maintained and preserved for future generations.

"However, the collection has now outgrown the capacity of the secure stores at the museum and the building itself has become expensive to maintain so we need to look at alternatives.

"The proposals we are putting forward will not only ensure the condition of the collection is protected for the future but, by siting temporary exhibitions at more accessible locations, will also mean we can make it available to a much wider audience.

"Palace Green Library, for example, is close to the DLI Chapel and garden within Durham Cathedral as well as the new DLI memorial in the Market Place - an area that attracts an estimated 600,000 visitors each year."

 

Future of Durham Art Gallery

If the proposals are approved, the DLI building would close to the public on 1 April 2016. A further report would be prepared regarding the future of Durham Art Gallery.

Cabinet meets at the Witham, in Barnard Castle, on Wednesday, 21 October.

Thomas Kenny VC

The Unveiling of the Thomas Kenny VC Commemorative Stone will take place on Wednesday 4th November 2015 at Wheatley Hill Cemetery, DH6 3JY

This is one of the paving stones presented to local communities by the Departments for Communities and Local Government to commemorate recipients of the Victoria Cross during the First World War. It is the first of seven stones to be unveiled in County Durham between 2015 and 2018.

 

More details at the Durham at War website LINK

The Durham Light Infantry Association

Monthly Bulletin September 2015

74. DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY REUNION

15.74.01 The Chairman DLI Association and the Secretary were very pleased with the turnout on Reunion Sunday for the DLI Reunion and March-Past.

15.74.02 Despite the fact that the branch members had to march further, and they are all a year older, they coped with the march-past, though perhaps next year it will get back to the short route we had in 2013.

15.74.03 It was noted that the attendance at the cathedral was down on previous years. This is something that could be worked on. Some former DLI members travel a long way to attend the reunion and it is disappointing for all when the cathedral is as empty as it was in 2015. The concert in the Bede College building was its usual success thanks to the fine playing of the DACF Band & Bugles. Our thanks are due to all of them

74. “LAST POST TRIBUTE” EVENT – 9 JULY 2015

1. The secretary has received a letter from Steve Wharton, the Operational Delivery Manager of County Durham and Darlington Fire and rescue Service.

2. He asked me to pass on his words to all concerned. In the letter he says:

“I would like to write to you to express my sincere thanks for your support and assistance in making the Last Post “Tribute to the Tribute” event a huge success. This was a unique occasion marking the 30,000^th sounding of the Last Post at the Menin Gate by Belgian fire fighters in memory of the fallen.

Without the help of you and you association this event could not have gone so well and I hope that you would agree that it was a moving and proud moment for all uniformed services involved.

74. DEDICATION OF A CWGC HEADSTONE FOR EDWARD WILLIAM PRATT

15.76.01 On 2 September representative parties from the Aycliffe Village Historical Association and the DLI Association accompanied by a bugler of the Light Infantry & Rifles Association of Buglers, local councillors and family representatives attended the dedication of a headstone to Edward William Pratt in Darlington West Cemetery. 201248 Pte Pratt, formerly of the 5 Bn DLI, died after repatriation having been wounded in the Great War and who was buried in an unmarked grave in 1918. His grave was recently identified by the Aycliffe Historical Society which successfully petitioned the CWGC for a headstone. The ceremony was conducted by the DLI Association Chaplain the Reverend Kenneth Crawford with the Rector of the Parish of Great Aycliffe the Reverend Christopher Pearson.

74. DLI ASSOCIATION DRAW 2015 WINNERS

1. The DLI Association Draw was made on Thursday 1o September by the Secretary DLI Association in the presence of the Regimental Secretary Rifles Durham and the Administration Officer Rifles Office Durham.

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   1. The winners have been individually informed, and their winning cheques despatched to them.

   74. DLI ASSOCIATION RAFFLE

   1. Branches of the Association are thanked for their donations of prizes for the DLI Association Raffle drawn in Caedmon Hall, College of St Hild and St Bede on the afternoon of 13 September 2015.

   2. All Prizes were collected on the day.

   74. WALKING WITH THE WOUNDED CONCERT 3 SEPTEMBER 2015

   15.79.01 Members of the Association who attended this concert at the Sage Theatre are thanked for their support. It was a memorable concert and raised a considerable amount of money towards the cause.

   74. THE *NEW* DURHAM BUGLE NEWSLETTER

   1. Copies of the first edition of the *New* Durham Bugle Newsletter are available for collection by branch representatives. Despite the fact that the issues have been in the Secretary’s office for three week some branch are still to collect their editions. Individual subscribers will receive their copy by post in the usual way. Some packs of the final issue of the ‘old’ Durham Bugle are still awaiting collection at the Rifles Office Durham.

   74. BLIGHTY FILMS

   15.81.01 Kevin Storey has forwarded to me the following communication form from Richard Cleghorn-Brown (Email: richard(at)deducit.com ) . His reason is evident from the context.

   Hello, Kevin Storey,

   Does the DLI Association happen to know whether anyone in the Forgotten Army of the time and who was aware of being filmed for any of the 'Calling Blighty' films which were sent back to the UK during, say, at Kohima in 1944?

   I was there in India as a child, and my father Lt Col Jack Howel Brown was killed at the Relief of Kohima, but does anyone you know of that time happen to have anyone still alive who knows of ever being filmed vis a vis the 'Calling Blighty' films?

   As you may already know, Paula Nightingale is seeking to talk with other Burma veterans who can help us flesh out the story of the Burma Campaign, even if they are not directly connected to the 'Calling Blighty' films. If you are aware of any DLI Burma veterans who might know something about these wartime films, please could you give me any information you may have in this regard?

   Very many thanks,

   Richard Cleghorn-Brown

   15.81.02 If you feel that any of your members can respond in any way to this request for information, please ask them to make contact with Richard Cleghorn-Brown using the email address given. Any information will be greatly appreciated by Richard.   

5. VC COMMEMORATIVE STONES      The VC commemorative stones and being commemorated on the centenary of the action in which the Victoria Cross was awarded. The earliest VC stone to be commemorated in County Durham is that of Pte Thomas Kenny VC. This commemoration takes place around 1100 hrs on Wed 4 November at Wheatley Hill. Standards are encouraged, the more the better, as well a Association members. Unfortunately it is the case that only limited accommodation is available and so the reception is limited to invited guests.

6. MILITARY VEHICLE RALLY       This took place in the grounds of the DLI Museum, successfully supported by Association members in historic dress and members of the Friends of the DLI Museum, as well as many members of the public. It was a very successful 2 days and resulted in some new Friends and Association members.
7.                                                                                ASSOCIATION CHRISTMAS CARDS AND CALENDARS   These items can be collected free of postal charges from the Rifles Office. There are still significant stocks of these and other PRI stock.
8.  DLI V-NECK PULLOVERS IN RIFLE GREEN  V-Neck pullovers are now available on sale at the Rifles Office and at the Association shop on Reunion Sunday. We have been able to access a new supplier, so they a little more expensive than formerly. However they are really good quality. They are available as a special promotion at £25.00 each. The following sizes are available: 42, 44, 46, 48, 50/52.
9. BRANCH TRIP TO GUTERSLOH  Some of you may not know that a party of seven from Stockton Branch DLI Association spent Mon – Thur (21-24 September) with WO1 GSM John Dawson who is a Vice President of the Stockton Branch. The party was accommodation in the WOs’ & Sjts’ Mess at the Princess Royal Barracks and made visits to Bergen-Belsen. Fallingbostal Military Museum, the Mohne Dam and the Mohnesee, the British Army Sailing club, Himmler’s Castle at Wewelsburg which promoted the philosophy of the NAZI Party in the 1940s, as well as parts of the Princess Royal Barrack Area and the Former RAF Gutersloh. Finally to the RBL at Gutersloh where everyone had to do a turn on the karaoke. It was a great trip and WO1 Dawson had been much congratulated for it.
10.  THE FUNERAL OF COLONEL WILLIAM PETER CATESBY The members responded well to the request for members at Peter Catesby’s funeral. There was a huge turnout, members, friends, brother officers, branch standards; a congregation much too large to fit easily into the chapel of the Crematorium. Eulogies were given by Colonel Steve Hopper, Major Paul Wharton MM and the Rev Malcolm Reed. As always one learns more about the man at his funeral than previously known, and what a lot we didn’t know about this great man. After the funeral everyone retired to Bistro 21 where a fine lunch was prepared (What else would you expect of a men from the Hotels industry). Colonel Peter had a good send off. He will be greatly missed.
15. DEATHS REPORTED These deaths have been reported to the Rifles Office since the publication of last month’s bulletin.

    Colonel Peter Catesby died: 31 August 2015. He was last Honorary Colonel of the 7^th Bn The Light Infantry and president of the 7^th LI Officers and Seniors Dinner Club.

    Sandy Sanderson

    Michael Duggan,died Sat 19 Sept 2015. A member of Durham Branch he had been suffering from liver cancer for some time

    May They Rest in Peace

    

     

Elvet Waterside

Durham

30 Sept 2015