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.

2. 

3. 

4.  

   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