Monthly
Bulletin
January
2016
- BATTLEFIELD TOUR TO THE SOMME – 18 – 23 SEPTEMBER 2016
- Plans are at present being drawn up for a DLI Association trip to the Somme in September 2016. As the Battle of the Somme began in July 1916 you might wonder why the trip is being organised for September 2016. Experience has shown us that the best time to visit a battlefield is not always the exact anniversary of its occurrence. At such time the whole area of or surrounding a battlefield becomes crowded with people; royalty, national leaders, politicians, hundreds of tourists and moving from place to place is fraught with difficulty. Going at another time avoids this problem. Movement from place to place is easy. There are no time consuming security checks, journeys take much less time, and you can get to the places you wish to without difficulty and choice of accommodation is easier. At present we are able to tell you that the basic price of the Tour will be £405 as a room sharing member of the party. In addition there will be a subsidy from the DLI Association which will reduce the price by about £50. Anyone wanting to have extras such as a single room may have one but optional extras costs more. I have attached the application form for the tour at Annex A to this Bulletin, so you can see how the charges are made up. More information is available on the itinerary or method and route of travel. You have already been sent an outline of possibilities. You will see that to avoid a long and tedious journey to the Channel Ports were are sailing from Hull to Zeebrugge, which shortens the road travels component. We are now taking bookings for the Tour from members of the Associations, partners, friends etc. Please remember if, as a member of the party, you are travelling under insurance provided by yourself, rather than using Emerald Insurance, provided through Galina Battlefield Tours you must fill in and return the Insurance Indemnity Form on page 3 of the Annex.
- THE MASSED BANDS AND BUGLES OF THE RIFLES ON HORSE GUARDS PARADE 1 & 2 JUNE 2016
- This is an opportunity you should not miss. Your chance to see the fastest marching band of the British Army, the massed Bands and Bugles of The Rifles, on Horse Guards Parade 1st or 2nd June 2016 at 8.00pm, also featuring The Band of The Brigade of Gurkhas, The Royal Gurkha Rifles Pipes and Drums, The Band of The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry and The Quirinus Band & Bugle Corps.
- Tickets have been on sale from 4th Jan 2016. Prices range from £10 to £30. Tickets need to be booked from Ticketmaster an internet ticket booking company to be found on-line. It had proved to be too difficult for the Rifles Office to book the tickets en-bloc so if you want to go you are required to make your own contacts through Ticket Master. You are advised to make your booking as soon as possible as there is known to be a big demand for tickets. As they are evening performance you will also need to book accommodation.
- AUTUMN 2015 ISSUE OF THE BUGLE
- The Autumn 2015 Edition of the Bugle (The Journal of The Rifles) has just been published. It is the usual high class, well produced magazine giving details of all activities associated with The Rifles. All DLI Association branches receive a free copy and other copies can be purchased from RHQ The Rifles. A Standing Order Form and/or a Cash Customer Form can be found on pages 252-253.
- What is significant to the DLI Association is the 14 pages of comment and photographs devoted to News from Durham which is compiled by the Regimental Secretary Maj Chris Lawton MBE with your help, in terms of text and photographs. This time there are articles about the DLI Reunion 2014, the VC Stone Ceremony 2014, “The Faithful” Inkerman Dinner Club Dinner 2014, The Presentation of the Chairman of the County Council Certificate and Medal, the 2014 Association Indoor Games, The Freedom of Hartlepool parade, The Hotspur Award, InterOpera - Darkness into Light, the Liberation of Bergen-Belsen lecture to the Gateshead Jewish Community, Armed Forces Day, the 30,000th Sounding of the Last Post at the Menin Gate, and a significant number of obituaries associated with the DLI.
- If you want to know more about The Rifles and what we do in the DLI Association, then this is the magazine for you. It is published each Autumn at a cost of £13.
- You can if you wish also get The Rifles Chronicle, An Annual Record, published by Crest Publications, 1 Rothwell Grange Court, Kettering, NN16 8FB. Further details if reqiored from the Rifles Office, Durham
- COMMEMORATING THE GUYZANCE TRAGEDY
16.04.01 It was a dull and rainy morning in the secluded valley of
the River Coquet near the Northumberland village of Guyzance on 18
January 2016. But there was a small gathering at the memorial set
beside the weir where members of the Durham Light Infantry
Association and the Royal British Legion had gathered to commemorate
the death of eight Durham Light Infantry Trainees and two from the
Duke of Wellington’s Regiment who had been swept over the weir to
their deaths on 17 January 1945 while training for river crossings
towards the end of World War 2, including DLI Association Chaplain
the Revd Kenneth Crawford, the Chairman Major Paul Wharton MM, the
Rifles Regimental Secretary Major Chris Lawton MBE, the Association
Secretary Lt Col John Heron TD, Lt Col Ted Kemp TD, Mr Jeff Watson
Chairman of the Amble and Warkworth Branch of the Royal British
Legion, Felton Parish Councillor Mrs Vi Curry, DLI Association
Standard Bearer Terry Gilbert formerly a National Serviceman of 1 Bn
DLI. The calls were sounded by a bugler of the Cleveland Police Band
Mr Tom Longstaff, The wreath was laid by Maj Paul Wharton MM.
- 9TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FORMATION OF THE RIFLES
- 1st February 2016 is the 9th Anniversary of the founding of The Rifles. The Rifles is the best recruited Infantry Regiment in the British Army. Neither has it any difficulty attracting officers. 10 times the number of available officer placements are applied for every year. This Regiment carries the link with the DLI forward into the future. Our nearest Rifles Regiment, the 3rd Bn, is located in Edinburgh. Our local Reserve Army Company. D (Rifles Company) has recently re-located to the Gilesgate Armoury in Durham, leaving behind the Eden Armoury which has had connections with the DLI, Light Infantry and Rifles since it was built.
- EVERY DAY IS REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMEMORATIVE BADGE
- At the present time the Association is designing a commemorative badge, Every Day is Remembrance Day, which will be ideal for Association members to wear on their blazer lapels at Funerals or other events when the traditional poppy is not appropriate. It will show the silver DLI Badge in the centre on a green background, with a slim red border surrounding it. Towards the outside will be a wide black border with the words, Every Day is Remembrance Day. The price is not yet settled but you should keep an eye out for the badge as we think it will be very popular. It will available from the Rifles Office.
- DLI MUSEM FRIENDS
- Everybody is aware of the situation with regard to the DLI Museum. This is just to tell you that the DLI Museum Friends will be continuing albeit on a somewhat different form. It is too early as yet to say exactly what form it will take, but have no doubt that it will continue. As it is expected that the Museum will soon close, the benefit of free entry to the Museum cannot continue, but the Friends hope to be introducing new benefits for Association who are also members of the Friends in the near future. We will keep you informed of the up-to-date situation as things develop.
- DEATHS REPORTED
16.05.01 The following deaths have been reported to the Rifles Office
since the publication of last month’s bulletin.
Elvet Waterside
Durham
10 December 2015
