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