The Durham Light Infantry Association

Monthly Bulletin September 2016

59. DLI ANNUAL REUNION

    1. The Association reports a successful DLI Reunion in 2016. The new parade format was shown to be successful allowing the Lord Lieutenant, Sue Snowdon, the opportunity to speak to many more of those on parade. The idea of a non-marching contingent was also successful allowing many Association members, not now fit enough to march, to share in the parade, which is always enjoyable for former soldiers. An interesting aspect is that the number parading in the two marching contingents was up on the normal parading numbers which was a somewhat unexpected benefit. The Association Chairman noted that numbers attending the cathedral service were up, hopefully in response to his earlier appeal, Most if not all branches paraded their standard, which were co-ordinated by John Pepper. The contribution to the parade organisation made by Michael Langelier and John Norton is appreciated.

    2. The Association Secretary apologises for the shuttle-bus service which was not successful. He has since has had discussions with the coach company which agrees that it did not fulfil the contract despite their driver having a correct copy of the contract and a refund will be paid to the Association. The Association Secretary is grateful for the patience and forbearance of those Association members and their wives who were delayed at the Porter’s Lodge of the College Green for so long after the cathedral service, and thanks the Cadet Force Band mini coach for coming to the rescue those stranded there.

    3. Numbers at the College of St Hild and St Bede were around their usual number. There were good sales at the Association shop, particularly of the Association Christmas Card, of which there is still a good supply available at the Rifles Office as well as other items. Thanks for this go to Shirley Nicholson, Admin Officer of the Rifles Office who ran the stall all day. The new DLI Friends stall run by Eddy Castling , assisted by Naomi and Carolyn was also successful in term of sales and information about the DLI Friends who have replaced the former DLI Museum Friends. Thanks go to them too.

    4. One again an enormous debt of thanks must go to Major Colin Miller, Director of Music and Derek Corbett, Bugle Major of the Band and Bugles of the Durham Army Cadet Force which supported the reunion in every way and then played for the Concert in the Caedmon Hall throughout the afternoon. Their support cannot be over-exaggerated. Without the Band & Bugles the Reunion weekend would be a pale reflection of what it is.

    LINKS TO PHOTOS John Attle  T Griffiths

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    1. REUNION DINNERS The usual 1^st and 2^nd Bn WOs and Sgts Mess Dinner took place on 9^th September at the Durham City Rugby Club and the Officers Rifles Northern Dinner on 10 Sept in the Joachim Room of St Hild’s College.

59. DLI SEATS

    1. DLI Memorial seats are being placed at two locations during the week beginning 19 September. These have been financed by Durham County Council in association with the DLI Trustees and are to record the part played by the DLI in the Battle of the Somme .

Seat 1 This seat is to be located on the Somme itself.  To be dedicated in a ceremony on 19 September 2016 at the Somme beside Thiepval.  The Association Battlefield Tour party are hoping to take part in this ceremony, if it can disembark quickly from the Ferry in Zeebrugge and make its way without traffic congestion straight to Thiepval. We are told the ceremony is taking place at 1130hrs. 

Seat 2 This seat is to be located at Durham, on the Racecourse side of the river beside the bandstand.  It is identical to the one being dedicated on the Somme. The ceremony is to take place on Wed 21 September at 5.15pm beside the bandstand on the Racecourse side of the River Wear. DLI Association members (and any Branch Standards) are invited.  The DLI Association Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary as well as some other key Association personnel figures cannot be present as they are on the battlefield tour.

59. WW1 SOLDIER SEARCH REQUEST PROJECT

    1. In the August DLI Association Bulletin the Secretary spoke about the launch of a WW1 Soldier Search Request Project.

    2. Unfortunately, this was advertised as a DLI Friends and DLI Association shared project.  This is NOT the case. The DLI Friends, based at Sevenhills, are not involved with this project. The DLI Association is launching this as a separate, independent project with its own independent researcher.

    3. Peter Nelson, who is a volunteer helper at the Sevenhills Research Unit, has asked that it be made absolutely clear that any work he does at Sevenhills is done solely on behalf of the Durham County Council and in support of the DLI Collection. Any personnel searches requested at Sevenhills will be directed to the Durham County Record Office which fulfils such requests on behalf of Durham County Council.

59. DLI ASSOCIATION BATTLEFIELD TOUR TO THE SOMME

    1. A party of around 30 people from the Association with their wives and/or partners are making a 6 day, 5 nights tour of the Somme Battlefield following in the footsteps of 151 Brigade DLI Units, leaving Durham at 1300 hrs Sunday 18 Sept and returning 23 Sept. They are travelling by coach, crossing by the Hull to Zeebrugge Ferry and are being accommodated at the Holiday Express Inn at Arras. As stated above they hoped to be able to attend the dedication of the DLI Memorial Seat at Thiepval on the morning of the 19 Sept. This tour arranged by Galina International Battlefield Tours. The itinerary is being arranged by Clive Bowery and Harry Moses (author of several published works on the Durham Light Infantry).

59. SERVICE TO COMMEND THE BRAVERY OF ROLAND BOYS BRADFORD

    1. This confirms the service of celebration of the bravery of Roland Boys Bradford who lost his life while leading 151 Bde at the Battle of Warlencourt on 1^st October 1916 for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. This service will be held on Saturday 1 October 2016 at 11.00am, at St Paul’s Church Witton Park, DL14 …  The DLI Association Padre, the Revd Kenneth Crawford, will conduct the dedication service.  A bugler will be present to sound the appropriate bugle calls.  In addition to this the Commemoration will take place in the presence of HM Lord Lieutenant of the County of Durham, members of the family, local councillors and the great and good of County Durham

    2. This occasion is therefore particularly significant to all members of the DLI Association and members of the former Durham Light Infantry.  The Chairman is hoping that we can have a really good turnout of members and branch standards at the commemoration. I would be grateful if branch Chairmen would be aware of this as the date is very close and arrangements may need to be made.

    3. The dedication of the ‘paving stone’ to Roland Boys Bradford will take place in March 2017 of which you will receive notification in due course.

59. WARNING ORDER – DLI ASSOCIATION ORDINARY EXECUTIVE MEETING – 16 NOV 2016

    1. Branch Secretaries are reminded of the DLI Executive Ordinary Meeting to be held on Wed 16 November at 1400 hrs at the Rifles Office Durham.

    2. All branches are reminded that they should send a representative to this meeting.

    3. The decision on the location of the Association Indoor Games 2017 will be decided at this meeting. Branches bidding to host the games should be ready to present their bid at the meeting.

59. THE “FAITHFUL” INKERMAN DINNER CLUB’S DLI VICTORIA CROSS STONE

    1. As most of you already know discussions are taking place regarding the proposed move of “The Faithful” Inkerman Dinner Club’s Victoria Cross Stone from its present position outside the former DLI Museum to a new location. It is hoped that this will be in front of Bishop Cosin’s Hall on Palace Green. At present this location has been given approval in principle, and it is now going through further decision making committees. Because of this it cannot be definitely stated where the VC Stone Ceremony will take place on 6 November 2016, the Sunday before Remembrance Day, when the ceremony traditionally takes place. If the stone has not been relocated by then the ceremony will take place at the old site beside the Museum. If this is the case there will be no refreshments reception. This is regretted. If the stone has been moved by then the ceremony will take place on Palace Green, where it is hoped there would be a reception. You will be kept up to date about the arrangements in due course. Mr Ralph Harrison (Chairman) or Mr Brian Laverick (Secretary/Treasurer) will have the necessary details.

59. DINNER CLUB OF THE FORMER 7 BATTALION OFFICERS AND SENIORS

    1. Officers and Seniors of the former 7 Battalion the Light Infantry should by now have received information and a bidding return for this dinner which takes place on Sat 15 October 2016.

    2. If you should have received this invitation and have not done so, or know of others in this position please contact Marc Stuart on marc.stuart@btinternet.com or 07777 676090.

    3. Please note that the dinner takes place at the Gilesgate Armoury Reserve Army Centre not at its former location of the Eden Armoury in Bishop Auckland.

59. COMMEMORATION OF THE LIFE OF RICHARD DERRICK TURNBULL

    1. At the request of the Guisborough Branch of the RBL, the DLI Association has sent a Regimental Shield (Light Infantry) to Laurence Jackson School, Guisborough, North Yorkshire, to be incorporated in a memorial to all former pupils killed in action with the military services. Richard Derrick Turnbull was one former pupil who became a member of the 3^rd Bn The Light Infantry and who was killed while on duty with 3LI in Belfast on 26 June 1977.

59. DEATHS REPORTED

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

    2. Dominic Lambert died on 4 August 2016 aged 82 years.He served with the DLI WIA 27 April 1953 in Korea

       George Forster a long-time member of Durham City Branch DLI Association

       Septimus Bainbridge Jobes, died 10 November 2015. Served in DLI during WW2

       Major (Retired) Fiji Kotwall RAMC, died: 17August 2016. Former Medical Officer (RMO2) 7 Bn Light Infantry

       Brian Paley died on 31 August 2016. He served in 1DLI in Berlin and Korea. Former Chairman of Consett & Stanley Branch and continuing member of the DLI Association until recently

       Arnold Dunne, died: 24 August 2016.in the Greenbank Care Home. He served with the RAF REGT and was a long time member of the Chester-le-Street Branch DLI Association

        

       May They Rest in Peace

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62. Elvet Waterside Durham,

    DH1 3BW

    16 September 2016