The Commemoration of the Battle of Gravenstafel Ridge

The Commemoration of the Battle of Gravenstafel Ridge took place on the 23 April 2016 at the Gravenstafel Memorial on the Bede Lawn of the college of St Hild and St Bede in the presence of the Lord Lieutenant of County Durham Mrs Sue Snowdon and the College Principal Professor Jan Clarke. The service of commemoration was conducted by the Revd Kenneth Crawford, the DLI Association Chaplain with the Revd Timothy Ferguson the College Chaplain. The President of the Student Representative Council Mr George McNeilly read the lesson from St John’s Gospel, Chapter 15 verses 9-17, the Address was given by the Revd Timothy Ferguson. A wreath was laid by Major Donald McDonald President of the 8^th &11^th Battalions Durham Light Infantry Old Comrades Association to commemorate the soldiers and officers of the 8^th Battalion killed in the Battle including members of the Bede College Contingent. Colonel Arthur Charlton TD DL and Major Chris Lawton MBE DL were also in attendance, as were former principals, staff, students and alumni of the College. Former members of the 8^th Battalion DLI and the Light Infantry as well as members of the Durham Light Infantry Association were also present. The music was provided by the Durham Army Cadet Force Band and Bugles under their Director Major Colin Miller and Bugle Major Derek Corbett, which after the conclusion of the service of commemoration played a Retreat of well known pieces and marches of the Durham Light Infantry concluding with ‘Sunset’. The DLI Association standard was carried by Mr John Pepper.
Everyone then adjourned to a reception in the Collier Room of the college, where refreshments were provided for the band and bugles, and a buffet for the VIPs. This was a most enjoyable evening cementing the firm links that have existed between the College and the Regiment over more that 100 years.

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