Durham Light Infantry Association

MONTHLY BULLETIN  May 2017

34. FUNDRAISING FOR THE DLI FRIENDS

1. The DLI Friends have had in place for some years a fundraising scheme in which funds are generated simply by linking with the Easy Fundraising website by clicking onto their name when engaged in internet shopping. It costs nothing to the shopper and can raise significant amounts of funding for the Friends. What we are asking Association members to do when doing internet shopping is to log onto this website, locate the DLI Museum Friends logo and then make their normal internet purchase. The Scheme is still in the name of the DLI Friends Museum which we are endeavouring to update, but the funding comes to the DLI Friends. The Friends would be grateful for any funds raised in this way which will be applied to the Friends work at the DLI Collection at Sevenhills. If you would like to become involved you can see how to do this at the bottom of the page under Easy Fundraising for the DLI Friends.

17.35 COMMEMORATION OF A THE AWARD OF THE VICTORIA CROSS TO PTE MICHAEL HEAVISIDE VC – ST GILES’ CHURCH GILESGATE 6 MAY 2017

17.35.01 This event will take place at the Church of St Giles, Gilesgate on 6th May 2017 to commemorate the award of a Victoria Cross exactly100 years ago on 6 May 1917 to Michael Heaviside for an act of conspicuous bravery in first tending and later rescuing an unknown soldier who had lain in No Man’s Land under heavy fire during the Battle of Arras. If attending by car please use the Hild-Bede Lower Car Park as car-parking space at St Giles’ church is severely limited. Association members & Branch standards are welcome. At a later date, yet to be announced, a commemorative Victoria Cross paving stone will be placed at the church.

17.36 COMMEMORATION OF A PLAQUE AT NEWCASTLE DISCOVERY MUSEUM RECORDING THE GALLANTRY OF PRIVATE ADAM WAKENSHAW VC – 18 MAY 2017

17.36.01 The Chairman of the DLI Association Major Paul Wharton MM and Simon Parkin, Historic Environment Officer at Newcastle City Council, have discussed participation by the Durham Light Infantry Association in this event and agreed that the Association should be included in the arrangements when a plaque named for Pte Wakenshaw (and others) is unveiled. It had been intended these plaques were to be unveiled at an important Ceremony at the Discovery Museum on 18 May 2017. Unfortunately there has been a delay and this ceremony has been postponed, to a later date as yet to be determined.

2. Branches will be provided with further details of the new date when they are available, but it is important that all Branch Secretaries are aware of the 18 May postponement as they may have members proposing to attend on 18^th. In due course an amended date will be published and then we hope to encourage as many Association members and as many Branch Standards as possible to be present on the new date.

3. As soon as further details are known you will be informed

4. Background Private Adam Wakenshaw VC served in the 9 Battalion Durham Light Infantry and was 28 years old when he won his Victoria Cross in a gallant action on 27th June 1942 at Mersa Matruh in North Africa. The four 2 pounder anti-tank guns of 9DLI were engaged in slowing the German advance towards Alexandria after the fall of Torbruk. During this action all the crew of Pte Wakenshaw’s gun were either killed or terribly wounded but Pte Wakenshaw and the gun aimer Pte Mohn fought on. Though Wakenshaw had had his left arm blown off above the elbow, assisted by Mohn, he loaded and fired 5 more rounds. A German shell then killed Mohn, but Wakenshaw once more dragged himself to the gun and had loaded a further round into the breech when the gun suffered a direct hit and he was killed. Adam’s 2 pounder anti-tank gun was displayed at the DLI Museum for many years, and now stands in pride of place as part of the DLI Collection at Sevenhills at Spennymoor. The Association will be proud to commemorate Pte Adam Wakenshaw on this important day.

35. THE DLI COLLECTION EXHIBITION IN THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY, PALACE GREEN

1. This exhibition subtitled Courage, Comrades, Community was opened on Thursday 8^th March 2017. The DLI Collection Gallery tells the history of the Regiment through the stories of the soldiers who made it. This exhibition enables visitors to learn more about their brave deeds and can see the Victoria Cross awarded to Private Michael Heaviside for saving the life of his injured comrade. Visitors can discover the DLI’s surprising sporting past and marvel at what was once said to be the world’s biggest football trophy. They can have fun and meet soldiers from the DLI’s past by playing our touch table game, A March Through Time. Members of the Working Together Group from the DLI Friends and DLI Association; Presidents and Chairman were invited to private showings on to take place on 6 April and 2 May. Any Association member who would like to see the exhibition should report to the Durham University Library on Palace Green at 10.00am on 6 May 2017

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

On 22 April 2017 the 8^th &11^th Bns DLI Old Comrades Association commemorated this action in which students of the College of the Venerable Bede, fought as part of 8^th Bn Durham Light Infantry in the 2^nd Battle of Ypres on 2526^th April 1915 during which the 8^th Bn lost 574 men and 19 officers. In the presence of the Lord Lieutenant of County Durham Sue Snowdon, Jan Clarke the college principal, the commemoration which was conducted by the Revd Kenneth Crawford, Chaplain to the DLI Association and Revd Timothy Ferguson, College Chaplain, assisted by students of the College of St Hild & St Bede, took place at the Gravenstafel War Memorial on the college lawn. A wreath to commemorate the deaths which occurred in the battle and to commemorate the long association between the college and the Regiment was laid by Lt Col John Heron TD, as the President OCA Major Donald McDonald was absent through illness.

17.37 The Band & Bugles of the Durham Army Cadet Force played at the commemoration and at the Retreat in Caedmon Hall which followed. The Standard of the Durham Branch DLI Association was carried by John Pepper. Also present were Major Chris Lawton MBE, DL, (Rifles Secretary Durham), Major Paul Wharton MM (Chairman DLI Association), the Chairman & the Secretary of the OCA, Colonel Steve Hopper, Lt Cols Ian Banks and Jimmy Brown, Majors John Jackson, Brian Snaith, Alasdair Watson, Albert Armstrong and Darryl Dowdell and many former members of the Durham Light Infantry and the Light Infantry and the College.

35. After the Retreat college alumni and students attended a reception in the Collier Room at the college, while members of the O.C.A. retired to the Gilesgate Armoury for their Annual Dinner hosted by their Chairman Mr Michael Langelier and their Secretary Mr Kenneth Suddes. Guests of Honour were the President and Vice President of the Hild- Bede Student Representative Council Beccy Hodson and Elliot Matger. The Band and Bugles played for this occasion throughout the meal after which Bugle Major Derek Corbett and friends give a humorous rendition of the Post Horn Gallop.

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36. ATTENDANCE AT THE LONDON CENOTAPH PARADE 2017

    2. There is no reason to suppose that the arrangements for the issue of marchers’ passes for this parade will be any different this year from last year, when you will remember significant information was required from each member intending to march in order to obtain an individual pass, without which he would not be able to march.

    3. As yet I have had no information from the Events Team at the Royal British Legion, but I think it will be safe to assume they will want much the same details as last year. Therefore it would make sense for those branches intending to send representatives to gather the necessary details now. If further details are required you will be informed.

    4. In 2016 the details required from all marchers was as follows:

Title/Rank; First name; Last name; Date of Birth; Place of Birth (DD/MM/YYYY); Place of Birth; First line of address; Town; Postcode; Military Number; Criteria ( e. g. Category 1 - Ex-Service Personnel holding a campaign medal; Category 2 Civilians deployed on operations in support of the Military (Includes; Police, Fire Service, Ambulance Service, Civil Servants); Category 3 Ex-Service Personnel with no campaign medal.

2. Clearly there is at this stage no rush for information, but it is likely to be required by the end of August, so it might be a good idea to start collecting it now, so you have it ready it is required for submission. I will send you a sheet with the format for the required information when I have it. I still have the information submitted for members last year should it be required.

35. THE RIFLES NORTHERN COCKTAIL PARTY – UNIVERSITY LIBRARY, PALACE GREEN – 5 MAY 2017

1. The Rifles Northern Cocktail Part will take place at UNIVERSITY LIBRARY, PALACE GREEN on 5 May. Mayors and their Consorts from the Freedom towns will be present, as well as other local personalities, officers of The Rifles; former officers of the Light Infantry and Durham Light Infantry and their ladies. A Retreat will be played on Palace Green by the Band & Bugles of the Durham ACF conducted by the Bandmaster Major Colin Miller RIFLES.

39. TRIP TO THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM

    1. You may remember that Richard Tough and the Houghton-le-Spring Branch are arranging to visit the National Memorial Arboretum on the weekend of Friday 7^th July to Sunday 9^th July 2017 which is open to members, partners, family and friends. They currently have 39 confirmed numbers with deposits paid.

    2. They are still able to take up to another dozen but they would need to be confirmed and be fully paid up before the end of May, so it is still open to late-comers. Interested DLI Association members should contact Richard Tough by e-mail, text or phone (07745 012209); a £40 per person deposit will secure a place.

    3. Details are: Travel with Durham City Coaches, 2 nights B&B, plus evening meal at the Staffordshire Tillington Hall Hotel***, with coach-hire throughout for £139.00 per person. A single room carries a£15 surcharge. Dinner is a choice of 3 starters, 3 mains, 3 deserts (incl vegetarian option) and served at tables of 6, 4 and 2.

39. RETURN OF 2017 ANNUAL LIGHT INFANTRY ASSOCIATION DRAW TICKETS

    1. Patrick Warren, organiser of the Annual Light Infantry Annual Draw recognises the support of the branches of the DLI Association to the Light Infantry Annual Draw and asks that any outstanding stubs and cash be returned to him as soon as possible. He is also able to supply further draw tickets as required.

    2. He also asks that in future all cheques be made payable to the Light Infantry and Rifles Association Draw and not to him personally as it is important that his personal bank account is not seen as being a part of the cash collection system for the draw..

    3. Anyone requiring further Light Infantry Draw Ticket should contact The Association Secretary or Patrick Warren on bo.diddley@talktalk.net

39. POPPY OF HONOUR PROJECT

1. A giant Remembrance Poppy has been commissioned to be constructed of steel and glass which when erected will stand 2.6m high. 2.2m wide and 300 mm

2. It will contain 1,115,471 individual Poppies with Rank, Name and Date of KIA/MIA of every British and Commonwealth Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Follower or Labourer lost during World War 1.

3. It will include the Names of 800 women killed in WW1 and also the 306 soldiers who were shot at dawn, and who have been granted a Royal pardon.

4. Each individual Poppy will be hand written with the Rank, Name and date the serviceman was Killed in Action or Missing in action. Each individual hand written Poppy will be permanently sealed inside the glass and steel Poppy, only when the last hand written Poppy is placed inside,

5. We are hoping that this memorial will become the People’s Memorial to those who never returned to their loved ones or countries of birth.

6. For further details of this interesting project or if you are interested in getting involved in the Poppy of Honour project 2018 write to Request a Form:

Poppy of Honour 2018, 2 Marlstone Court, Woodhayes, Henstridge, Templecombe BA8 0SH

Phone: 07821303120, E-mail: admin@poppyofhonour2018.org.uk

39. DEATHS The following deaths have been reported to the Rifles Office since the publication of the last Monthly Bulletin

Colin Watson, secretary of Spennymoor Branch DLI Association for 11 years and Case worker for the Durham Area of SSAFA

22774921 Pte Ernest Castelow (KOYLI)/DLI.Died Saturday 01 April 2017.  He served in Korea with the DLI July 1952 – July 1953.

Davie Prins , died Sat 8 April 2017 at Ollerton Yorkshire after a long illness.He served Regular Forces and Territorial Army. Hs ilast appointment was as Catering Manager 7LI

Fred (Paddy) Hatch. Died on the 18th March, Colchester aged 73

Peter Wiles died on 15 April. One of the wider DLI Family and a member of the Consett and Stanley Branch

May They Rest in Peace



Elvet Waterside, Durham, DH1 3BW

7 May 2017