DLI Museum

It is one year today the museum closed, all of the collection has been moved out to 7Hills and the University.

 

 

 

  

LINK TO ALL PHOTOS HERE

Durham Light Infantry Association

MONTHLY BULLETIN April 2017
17.26. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE DLI EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

1. Branches are reminded that the AGM of the DLI Executive takes place at 1400 hrs on 19 April 2017.
   
2. Secretaries are asked to ensure their branch Annual Finance Statement and Strength return for 2016 has been completed and sent to the Secretary (the deadline date was 17 February 2017).
   
3. The Agenda for the meeting can be found at Annex A to the January 2017 Monthly Bulletin.
   
4. Branches are asked to ensure they are represented at this meeting.

26. THE WORKING TOGETHER GROUP OF THE ASSOCIATION, FRIENDS AND DLI COLLECTION
    
    1. The Working Together Group of the Association, DLI Friends and Staff of the DLI Collection at Sevenhills held another successful working workshop the theme of which was the Second World War. The members of the group are looking to the post WW2 period. Quite a number of the group served at this time and they are being encouraged to make up boxes relating to their own service or on someone they knew who served at that time or who has recently found out about their own links to the DLI in the visits to schools.

26. COMMEMORATION OF THE BATTLE OF GRAVENSTAFEL RIDGE – 22 APRIL 1915
    
    1. The 8^th &11^th Bns DLI Old Comrades Association will commemorate this action in which students of the College of the Venerable Bede, who formed the Bede Contingent of 8^th Bn the Durham Light Infantry that fought at the 2^nd Battle of Ypres. The commemoration to be conducted by the Rev Kenneth Crawford, Chaplain to the DLI Association and Rev Timothy Robinson, College Chaplain, will take place at the Gravenstafel War Memorial on the Hild-Bede college lawn on 22 April 2017 beginning at 1800 hrs, followed by a Retreat played by the Band & Bugles of the Durham Army Cadet Force. This year there will be no ‘pavilion’ so the retreat will be played in Caedmon Hall.
       
    2. After the Retreat members of the O.C.A. will retire to the Gilesgate Armoury for their Annual Dinner, while college personnel will attend a function in the college.

26. NEW BRANCH STANDARD FOR BISHOP AUCKLAND BRANCH
    
    1. Five Branch Standards from Durham, Darlington/NewtonAycliffe, Spennymoor, Stockton, and Chester-le-Street attended the dedication of the Roland Boys Bradford VC paving stone and unveiling of a statue to the ‘Fighting Bradfords’ at Witton Park on 11 March 2017, when the Bishop Auckland Branch had its new branch standard dedicated. Present were the Lord Lieutenant of County Durham Mrs Sue Snowdon, members of the Bradford family, past and present MPs, county and local councillors, members of the Witton Park community as well and veterans of the DLI and Light Infantry including the DLI Association Chairman Major Paul Wharton MM, serving officers of The Rifles, including Brig Charlie Collins, Colonel The Hon James Ramsbotham and the Rifles Secretary Durham, Major Chris Lawton. The service was conducted by the Chaplain to the DLI Association the Revd Kenneth Crawford with the vicar of Witton Park the Revd Elishiva Mechanic. Also present were General Sir Peter de la Billiere, who spoke eloquently at the dedication of the unique nature of the Durham Light Infantry and the soldiers who were part of it and in which Roland Bradford had served becoming the youngest Brigadier General in the British Army and which had influenced in no small way his own service life beginning as a DLI subaltern in Korea.

26. BISHOP AUCKLAND RAILWAY STATION GOLDEN THREAD PLAQUE UNVEILING
    
    1. The Bishop Auckland Branch of the DLI Association in conjunction with Bishop Auckland Town Council were present on Friday 17 March at 1030 hrs at the unveiling of a marble plaque in honour of the Golden Thread existing between the DLI, LI and The Rifles having been placed on the wall of Bishop Auckland Railway Station.   The Ceremony which honoured the many hundreds of serviceman of those Regiments who left Bishop Auckland from the Railway Station for service inn UK or abroad and through death or injury or other circumstance never returned. The ceremony involved a short service conducted by the DLI Association Padre, The Revd Kenneth Crawford, Major Paul Wharton MM spoke the words of the Exhortation, after which a Regimental Bugler sounded the Last Post, followed by a short silence and then the Reveille.    
       
    2. Other DLI Association members and Standards attended as well as councillors and staff of the Bishop Auckland Area Action Partnership (AAP) who had worked hard to bring this event to fruition.

26. BISHOP AUCKLAND BRANCH MEETING DETAILS – UPDATE
    
    1. Please note that the details for the monthly meeting of Bishop Auckland Branch have recently changed and are as follows: 2^nd MONDAY IN THE MONTH at 1900hrs RAFA Club, 43-47 Cockton Hill Road, Bishop Auckland, DL14 6HS

26. DLI ASSOCIATION INDOOR GAMES – 19 MARCH 2017
    
    1. The Games were hosted by Hartlepool Branch and held at the Belle View Club, Hartlepool.
       
    2. Results
       
    3. 
       
    4. 
       
    5. 

1. An examination of all the Results showed errors which have been corrected here. The Wooden Spoon had been presented to Stockton Branch, but this was incorrect. Horden & Peterlee should have been presented with this as can be seen from the Final Results Table. Horden & Peterlee can pick up the Wooden Spoon at the DLI Executive Meeting on 19 April 2017.
   
2. Thirteen branches took part in the games, 172 members attended and 128 meals were served, either Ham Salad or Beef Curry. The standard of the food presented was excellent and there was plenty of it.
26. LINK TO PHOTOS HERE

26. DEATHS REPORTED
    
    1. The following been reported to the Rifles Office since the publication of last month’s bulletin.
    2. WO2 Charles Terence Sore died Colchester 28 Feb 17 aged: 62 .He served with 2LI
       May He Rest in Peace
       
27. 
28. Elvet Waterside Durham,
    DH1 3BW
    31 March 2017
    
    

New Exhibition Opened

THE DLI COLLECTION GALLERY:

A new free exhibition has opened at Durham University’s  Palace Green Library entitiled Courage, Comrades, Community.

It tells the story of the Durham soldier, included are several objects that have never been on display before.

DCC

Palace  Green Library

The Northern Echo

BISHOP AUCKLAND GOLDEN THREAD PLAQUE UNVEILING

The Bishop Auckland Branch of the DLI Association in conjunction with Bishop Auckland Town Council  unveiled a marble plaque in honour of the Golden Thread between The DLI, LI and The Rifles on the wall of Bishop Auckland Railway Station on Friday 17th March . A short service was conducted by the Association Padre, The Revd Kenneth Crawford, followed by the Last Post and Reveille.    

Link to all photos

Unveiling of the Roland Bradford Commemorative Stone

The village of Witton Park came to a standstill as locals and VIP guests attended the unveiling of the Roland Bradford Commemorative Stone. A small area of grassed area has been transformed into a memorial garden dedicated to the Bradford brothers, the only siblings to be awarded the VC in the first world war. The paved area has two stone blocks, one for the commemorative stones and one for the information plaque. In the centre is a life size sculpture produced by Ray Lonsdale.
The proceedings conducted by the reverends' Kenneth Crawford and Elisheva Mechanic started with the dedication of the new Bishop Auckland DLI Association branch standard and concluded with the national anthem.
After the formal part of the day there was performances of the Fighting Bradfords’ and the showing of The Wear at War in the village hall also there were objects from the DLI collection on display in the Methodist Chapel
     
  
ITV Report
Northern Echo Report

LINK  to  J Attle’s photos

Link to T Griffiths photos

Link to Eddie Serrell's photos

The Durham Light Infantry Association

MONTHLY BULLETIN March 2017

17. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE DLI EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

    1. Branches are reminded of the AGM of the DLI Executive takes place at 1400 hrs on 19 April 2017.

    2. Secretaries are asked to ensure their branch Annual Finance Statement and Strength return for 2016 has been completed and sent to the Secretary (the deadline date was 17 February 2017).

    3. The Agenda for the meeting can be found at Annex A to the January 2017 Monthly Bulletin.

    4. Branches are asked to ensure they are represented at this meeting.

17. THE WORKING TOGETHER GROUP OF THE ASSOCIATION, FRIENDS AND DLI COLLECTION

    1. The Working Together Group of the Association, DLI Friends and Staff of the DLI Collection at Sevenhills held another successful working workshop the theme of which was the Second World War. The members of the group will next be asked to make up their own period boxes. Details of this will be published to the members shortly.

17. COMMEMORATION OF THE BATTLE OF GRAVENSTAFEL RIDGE – 25 APRIL 1915

    1. The 8^th &11^th Bns DLI Old Comrades Association will commemorate this action in which students of the College of the Venerable Bede, who formed the Bede Contingent of 8^th Bn the Durham Light Infantry that fought at the 2^nd Battle of Ypres. The commemoration to be conducted by the Rev Kenneth Crawford, Chaplain to the DLI Association and Rev Timothy Ferguson, College Chaplain, will take place at the Gravenstafel War Memorial on the Hild-Bede college lawn on 22 April 2017 beginning at 1815 hrs, followed by a Retreat played by the Band & Bugles of the Durham Army Cadet Force.

    2. After the Retreat members of the O.C.A. will retire to the Gilesgate Armoury for their Annual Dinner, while college personnel will attend a function in the college.

17. NEW BRANCH STANDARDS FOR BISHOP AUCKLAND BRANCH

    1. Branch Standard Bearers with their standards are encouraged to attend the dedication of the Roland Bradford VC paving stone at Witton Park on 11 March 2017, where on the same day the Bishop Auckland Branch will have its new standard dedicated and a statue to the Fighting Bradfords will be unveiled. The days starts at 1030 hrs. Parking will be difficult as the central village road will be closed.

17. BISHOP AUCKLAND GOLDEN THREAD PLAQUE UNVEILING

    1. The Bishop Auckland Branch of the DLI Association in conjunction with Bishop Auckland Town Council will unveil a marble plaque in honour of the Golden Thread between The DLI, LI and The Rifles on the wall of Bishop Auckland Railway Station on Friday 17 March at 10.30hrs/am.   The Ceremony will involve a short service conducted by the Association Padre, The Revd Kenneth Crawford, followed by a Regimental Bugler to sound the Last Post and Reveille.    

    2. Other DLI Branch members and Standards are most welcome to attend and show support to this event. All attending should be at the railway Station for 10.00.  Dress: Normal Association dress, medals and head-dress.

17. LIGHT INFANTRY EVENT – SATURDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2017

    1. The Light Infantry (North East) Social Event took place in the Don War Memorial Bar, Silver St, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1SX, on Saturday 25th Feb from 1900 hours. There was an excellent turn out from veterans of DLI, Light Infantry and the Rifles and wives and partners. A group of five Buglers from the Light Division and Rifles Bugle Association were present sounding all the calls and playing alongside the CD were able to expand their repertoire to include ‘High on a Hill’, beloved of all. All money raised on the night was distributed equally between the Light Division and Rifles Bugle Association, the 2017 Light Infantry Reunion (Shrewsbury) and The Rifles Charity (Care for Casualties). Hot and cold buffet was provided. An enjoyable but extremely noisy occasion in the true traditions of the Regiments.

17. DEDICATION OF THE NEW STANDARD FOR THE BISHOP AUCKLAND BRANCH, THE COMMEMORATION OF THE VC PAVING STONE FOR ROLAND BOYS BRADFORD AT WITTON PARK BEGINNING AT 1030 HRS

    1. Members are reminded that the commemoration will take place on Sat 11 March in the village of Witton Park which was extensively covered in last month’s bulletin. The event will include the dedication of a new branch standard for Bishop Auckland in the Memorial Park, the dedication the Commemorative Paving Stone to Roland Boys Bradford and the unveiling of a new statue. All Association members and branch standards are welcome.

    2. Please note that the village will be closed to traffic for the duration of the ceremony, which will mean that parking will be extremely difficult in the area.

17. FUNERAL OF CAPT PETER BARKER

    1. There was a good turn-out of former Light Infantrymen and their families at the funeral of Capt Peter Barker on 16^th February at St Patrick’s RC Church in Hartlepool. Many former colleagues had travelled from around the country to be present. The Eulogy was delivered by David Wroe, whose military career had followed Peter’s over much of their service lives. The Wake at the Catholic Club followed and was well attended, where many greeted old friends not seen for some time. Our condolences go to Eileen and her family.

17. DEATHS REPORTED

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

    2. Capt Peter Barker died 6 February 2017. He served with KOYLI and mostly 2LI. After retirement PSAO 7LI

       Lt Col Tim Barker OBE died Mon 6 February 2017. He served with KOYLI, 2LI, 7LI . Also  served as Commanding Officer 7LI 1983-1986

       May They Rest in Peace

 

17. 

18. Elvet Waterside Durham,

    DH1 3BW

    06 March 2017