On Friday 16 January 2026 the DLI Assn commemorated the tragic deaths by drowning, on exercise, of ten eighteen year old trainee soldiers; eight DLI Trainees and two Trainees from the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, at the weir on the River Cocquet at Guyzance, on 17 January 1945, when training for WW2 operations in Europe. The Service was held beside the weir at the Guyzance Memorial Stone, on a cold, crisp morning, with approximately 40 attendees drawn from the DLI Assn, the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, local councillors and folks from the local community, including two DLI Assn Buglers, Kevin Blackmore and James Foster, and six Branch Standards also on Parade.
The Service was conducted jointly by DLI Assn Secretary Richard Tough and Revd Helen O’Sullivan beginning at 1050hrs. Maj Mike van der Gucht read the names of the ten fallen young soldiers. Richard Tough delivered ‘The Exhortation’, before the Buglers sounded ‘Last Post’; then ‘Reveille’ followed ‘The Silence’. Wreaths were laid by Maj Chris Lawton, representing ‘The Regiment’ and Capt Peter Robson for the DLI Assn. A member of the Duke of Wellingtons laid a wreath followed by local Councillors and other private individuals. Revd Helen O’Sullivan led prayers, culminating in ‘The Lord’s Prayer’. The Regimental Hymn, ‘Abide With Me’ was sang ‘a Capella’, before Richard Tough recited ‘The Kohima Epitaph’. Graeme Winterington, a nephew of one of the soldiers who died, addressed those assembled and read a very moving poem he had written ‘A Place of Peace’. The Service closed with ’The National Anthem’ and a Blessing by Revd Helen O’Sulllivan. At the end of the ceremony, attendees retired to Acklington Community Centre, where an excellent buffet lunch was provided by the Acklington Parish Community Team; this included two types of hearty broth, which were very much enjoyed by everyone, especially if judged by the number who went back for seconds!
Report by Richard Tough
Joanne Hutchinson provided the following photographs
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