The Durham Light Infantry Association

Monthly Bulletin October 2016

BATTLEFIELD TOUR

16.68.01 Grenville Holland of the Durham Branch send us this report on the Somme Battlefield Tour

Association Visit to the Somme - 18^th-23^rd September 2016

On Sunday 18^th September members of the Association headed to Hull and an overnight crossing to Zebrugge. On arrival they headed swiftly south to the first event of the day: the unveiling of a memorial seat close the entrance of the Thiepval memorial.

Thereafter, under the expert guidance of Clive Bowery and Harold Moses, we were first taken along the front line of July 1^st 1916 Montauban to Mametz, Fricourt, Shelter Wood (where the 15 Bn DLI went into action on the very first day), then on to Lochnager and its massive bomb crater. We then traced the front line round past Ovilliers and Authiuille Wood before reaching Arras and our accommodation in the local Holiday Inn.

Throughout the week we enjoyed beautiful late summer sunshine. On the Tuesday morning we made our way via Serre (which saw action by the 18 Bn DLI) to Sheffield Memorial Park recalling here the tragedy of the Pals battalions, with a particularly evocative call at the trench that launched the Accrington Pals. Then we visited Serre No 1 Cemetery to hear about the tragic death on July 1^st 2016 of Horace Iles, who was just 16 years of age. Next we returned to Thiepval and joined the RBL Service of Remembrance, followed by a leisurely lunch break at Avril William’s place. Afterwards we covered the advance of the 6^th, 8^th and 9^th Bns DLI which included the menacing and deadly Butte de Warlencourt. Finally we made our way to Hermies British Cemetery to visit the grave of Roland Boys Bradford, DSO, MC, VC

On Wednesday we set off to Vimy Ridge and the imposing Canadian war memorial looking out over the Douai plain. We then changed course for a while and followed the route in 1940 of the 8 Bn DLI and after lunch continued our investigation into the movements of 6 Bn DLI in the same phase of the conflict. Before returning to Arras we visited Wancourt where the DLI saw action at Easter 1917.

The following day, after dislodging 2 asylum seekers from the back axle of our coach, we headed back towards Zeebrugge stopping first at the remarkable Wellington Underground tunnels which were cut into old quarries at Arras close to the German front lines. Then we moved on to Notre Dame de Lorette and the French memorial to their fallen. Finally we made a quick visit to Loos and viewed the flat, featureless plains that saw deadly action in the early autumn of 1915. Then it was back to Zebrugge and the night sailing back to Hull.

59. SERVICE TO COMMEND THE BRAVERY OF ROLAND BOYS BRADFORD

    1. The service of commemoration of the bravery of Roland Boys Bradford VC, MC who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his extreme gallantly leading 151 Bde at the Battle of Warlencourt on 1^st October 1916, took place in the presence of HM Lord Lieutenant of the County of Durham, at St Paul’s Church Witton Park on Saturday 1 October 2016. The DLI Association Padre, the Revd Kenneth Crawford, conducted the service with the Revd Elishiva Mechanic, Priest-in-Charge St Paul’s Witton Park, accompanied by the Methodist Minister Revd Hodgson. Also present to read the poem ‘The Soldier’ by Rupert Brooke was Mrs Jacqui Holloway, mother of the late Capt Richard Holloway, RE, (SBS), killed in Action on 23 Dec 2013. Two buglers of The Rifles were present to sound the appropriate bugle calls as well as the Standards from Bishop Auckland, Darlington& Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor branches.  In addition to county and parish councillors, members of the parish, President of the DLI Association, Vice-President and Secretary, as well as officers of the former DLI and Light Infantry, and DLI Historian Mr Harry Moses were present on this, the 100^th Anniversary, of the award. Photographs were taken on the Green before a reception in the Methodist Community Hall.

    2. LINK to Photos

59. LONDON CENOTAPH PARADE 2016

    1. London Cenotaph Parade Information. Members will be pleased to hear that all 26 names submitted by the DLI Association Secretary from the Branches to attend the London Cenotaph Parade on 13 November were passed by London Security and the tickets have been issued.

    2. The Secretary has made the assumption that all the named personnel are travelling together on the Association Coach, run by Sunderland Branch. Therefore all the tickets have been sent to the Sunderland Branch Secretary, Mr Michael McMahon, to be issued to individual members of the party on the coach. 

    3. All personnel are reminded that they must carry with them their issued ticket and a either their passport, their picture driving licence or some other means of identity which shows a photograph.

    4. If any of the named personnel are travelling independently they should contact Mr McMahon directly on  07504 000160 or on email at mcmahonm59(at)live.co.uk who will send their tickets directly to their home address. Only personnel who are carrying the documents named above will be allowed to take part in the parade.

59. DLI ANNUAL DRAW RESULTS 2016

    1. The Annual Draw was conducted on Thursday 8 September by the Secretary DLI Association accompanied by the Rifles Secretary Major C Lawton MBE DL and the Administration Officer, Rifles Durham, Mrs Shirley Nicholson.

    2. The results were as follows:

    3. 

1. All prize winners have been informed by letter individually by the Rifles Secretary Durham and the winning cheques sent out to them.

59. DLI ASSOCIATION AND DLI FRIENDS WORKING TOGETHER GROUP

    1. Members from 10 of the 14 branches of the DLI Association and members of the DLI Friends, a total of 22 people, met together on 18 October at Sevenhills to explore ways in which the Association can work with the DLI Friends to promote the work of the Education staff at Sevenhills in enhancing the knowledge of the Durham Light Infantry within the schools of the county. Everyone had the opportunity to have a guided tour of the Sevenhills facility, to see how the DLI Collection was being looked after. Each branch agreed to take the message back to their branches to encourage members of their branch to engage in the education programme run by the Sevenhills education staff in their local area to raise awareness of the part played by the Durham Light Infantry and the Durham soldier generally n the history of the county.

    2. Representatives of the Branches and the DLI Friends will meet again before the end of the year to take this project forward.

59. DEATHS REPORTED

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

    2. David Buckingham,served 7 Bn Light Infantry

       Major Charles Ford of Penzance, Cornwall. Born 29 Nov 1927, died 28 August 2016 aged 88 years. Served Durham Light Infantry and retired 1965

       R M “Dickie” Dawson died 8 October 2016. He served with Royal Pioneer Corps, 8^th Bn DLI and was

       also a long time member of Chester-le-Street Branch of DLI Association

       Mr Ian McSeveney died on Monday 10 October 2016, aged 66. He served with 3 LI

60. May They Rest in Peace

    

61. Elvet Waterside Durham,

    DH1 3BW

    21 October 2016