Durham Light Infantry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Durham Light Infantry |
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Cap badge of the Durham Light Infantry, King's crown version (1902–53).
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| Active | 1881–1968 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Light infantry |
| Size | 2 Regular battalions
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| Garrison/HQ | Sunderland Barracks, Sunderland (1881–1884) Fenham Barracks, Newcastle upon Tyne (1884–1939) Brancepeth Castle, Durham (1939–1962) |
| Nickname(s) | The Faithful Durhams Dirty Little Imps Devil's Last Issue |
| Colours | Facing colour: White (from 1881) Dark Green (from 1903) Regimental Colours: Red and Dark Green |
| March | Slow: The Old 68th Quick: The Light Barque Double: Moneymusk |
| Anniversaries | Inkerman Day (5 November) Hooge Day (9 August) |
| Engagements | Mahdist War Second Boer War First World War North West Frontier Second World War Korean War Cyprus Emergency Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation |
| Battle honours | see below |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel-in-Chief | Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra of Kent |
| Colonel of the Regiment |
Major General Abdy Henry Gough Ricketts CBE, DSO |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol |
Within a Bugle Horn stringed the letters "DLI" |
The Durham Light Infantry (DLI) was a special type of light infantry regiment in the British Army. It existed from 1881 to 1968. The DLI was created in 1881 by combining two older regiments: the 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) and the 106th Regiment of Foot (Bombay Light Infantry). It also included local volunteer groups from County Durham.
This regiment fought bravely in many important conflicts. These included the Second Boer War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation. In times of peace, they served in places like India, China, West Germany, and Cyprus.
In 1968, the DLI joined with other regiments to form The Light Infantry. Later, in 2007, The Light Infantry became part of an even larger regiment called The Rifles. The Rifles continue the proud history of the DLI today.
Contents
How the DLI Regiment Started
In 1881, the British Army changed how its regiments were organized. This was part of the Childers Reforms. The 68th and 106th Regiments became the 1st and 2nd battalions of the new Durham Light Infantry. A battalion is a large group of soldiers, usually around 500-1000.
Local volunteer groups also joined the DLI. These included militia battalions and five volunteer battalions from County Durham. They became the 3rd, 4th, and 5th to 9th battalions of the new regiment.
The DLI adopted a new badge. It featured a bugle horn with a crown and the letters "DLI." This bugle horn was a symbol of light infantry units.
DLI History: Key Moments
Early Years (1881–1899)
When the DLI was formed, its 1st Battalion was in India, and the 2nd Battalion was in Ireland. Soldiers and officers began to move between these groups, making them feel more like one big regiment.
In 1884, the DLI's main base, called the Depot, moved to Fenham Barracks in Newcastle upon Tyne. This move was not very popular because it took the base out of County Durham.
The 2nd Battalion went to Egypt in 1885 to fight in the Mahdist War. They helped protect a railway and fought in the Battle of Ginnis. After this battle, they found a young Arab child. They named him James Francis Durham, or "Jimmy Durham." He later joined the DLI and became a corporal bugler.
While in India, the 2nd Battalion became very good at polo. They won 17 tournaments against other regiments. They also helped local authorities during outbreaks of the plague in 1897 and 1898.
Fighting in the Second Boer War
The 1st Battalion went to South Africa in November 1899 for the Second Anglo-Boer War. They were involved in battles to help British forces trapped in towns like Ladysmith. They fought in battles like Battle of Colenso and Battle of Vaal Krantz.
As the war changed to guerrilla fighting, the battalion guarded railway lines. Other DLI units, including a company from the 2nd Battalion, joined them.
The 3rd and 4th DLI battalions also served in South Africa. They guarded communication lines and escorted convoys. Volunteer battalions sent special companies to support the 1st Battalion.
Before World War I
After the Boer War, the 1st Battalion returned to India. The 2nd Battalion went back to Britain.
In 1908, the DLI's volunteer battalions were reorganized. They became the 5th to 9th battalions of the Territorial Force. These battalions were based in towns across County Durham, like Stockton-on-Tees, Bishop Auckland, Sunderland, Durham, and Gateshead.
The Durham Light Infantry in World War I
During First World War, the DLI grew a lot. It had 42 battalions in total, with 22 of them fighting overseas. They served on the Western Front in France and Belgium, and also in Italy, Egypt, and India.
The DLI earned 59 special awards called battle honours. Six DLI soldiers won the Victoria Cross, the highest award for bravery. Sadly, over 12,500 DLI soldiers died during the war. This was one of the highest numbers for any British infantry regiment.
The 1st Battalion was in India when the war started. The 2nd Battalion was in Britain and quickly went to France. They were part of the British Expeditionary Force.
In September 1914, the 2nd Battalion fought near the Aisne River in France. They faced heavy German attacks and lost many men. Later, they fought in the Battle of Armentières. By the end of October, the 2nd Battalion had lost more than 80% of its original soldiers.
In 1915, the DLI's territorial battalions arrived in France. They fought in the Second Battle of Ypres, helping to slow down German attacks. The 2nd Battalion also fought bravely at Hooge, retaking British lines in a difficult battle.
Many more DLI battalions arrived in France. They took part in major battles like the Battle of Loos, where they faced tough fighting with little support.
The Somme (1916)
The DLI played a big part in the Battle of the Somme. On the first day, July 1, 1916, the 15th Battalion captured German trenches. The 18th Battalion faced terrible losses at Serre.
Throughout the Somme offensive, DLI battalions fought in many areas, including Bezantin Ridge, Delville Wood, and Le Transloy. They suffered huge casualties in these fierce battles.
Later War Years (1917–1919)
In 1917, DLI battalions fought in the Battle of Arras and the Battle of Messines. They also took part in the long and difficult Battle of Passchendaele (Third Ypres), where they faced terrible conditions.
Some DLI battalions were sent to Italy in late 1917 to help the Italian army. Others fought in the Battle of Cambrai, where the British used tanks in a new way.
In 1918, Germany launched a huge attack. DLI battalions on the Western Front suffered heavy losses. The 50th Division, which included several DLI territorial battalions, was pushed back in a long retreat.
Later in 1918, the Allies began their "Hundred Days Offensive." DLI battalions were involved in this final push, fighting across France and Belgium until the war ended.
After the war, some DLI battalions were part of the Army of Occupation in Germany. The 1st Battalion remained in India, fighting on the North West Frontier and in the Third Anglo-Afghan War.
Between the World Wars
After World War I, many DLI battalions were disbanded. The 1st Battalion served in Germany and Egypt, experimenting with new military technologies.
The 2nd Battalion also served in Russia, Turkey, and India. In the 1930s, some territorial DLI battalions were changed to anti-aircraft units, showing how armies were adapting to air power.
The Durham Light Infantry in World War II
During World War II, the DLI raised 15 battalions. Ten of these fought overseas in France, Burma, North Africa, Italy, and Germany. The DLI also had 26 Home Guard battalions, made up of local volunteers.
Field Marshal Montgomery, a famous British general, praised the DLI. He said they were "a magnificent regiment. Steady as a rock in battle and absolutely reliable on all occasions."
When the war began, the 1st Battalion was in China, and the 2nd Battalion was in Britain. The territorial battalions started forming their second-line units.
Fighting in France (1940)
In May 1940, Germany attacked France and Belgium. The 2nd Battalion fought bravely on the River Dyle, holding back German forces. Lieutenant Annand of the 2nd Battalion won the first Victoria Cross of the war for his actions.
Other DLI battalions, including the 6th, 8th, and 9th, were involved in the Arras counter-attack. They helped delay the German advance, which was crucial for the Dunkirk evacuation. Many DLI soldiers were evacuated from Dunkirk.
North Africa and the Middle East
The 1st Battalion served in North Africa from 1940. They fought in Operation Compass and later helped defend the besieged Tobruk garrison.
The 50th Division, including the 151st Brigade (with DLI battalions), fought in the Battle of Gazala in 1942. They faced Rommel's armored forces and suffered heavy losses. Later, they played a key role in the decisive Second Battle of El Alamein.
In 1943, DLI battalions fought in the Battle of the Mareth Line in Tunisia. They faced tough German counterattacks. The 16th Battalion also fought in Tunisia, helping to defeat German forces.
Burma Campaign (1941–1945)
The 2nd Battalion was sent to India in 1942 and trained for jungle warfare. They fought in the Arakan in early 1943.
In 1944, the 2nd Battalion helped relieve the siege of Kohima. They fought on Garrison Hill and F.S.D. Ridge against Japanese forces. They later helped lift the siege of Imphal, a major victory in Burma.
Italy and Greece (1943–1945)
The 151st Brigade, with the 6th and 9th Battalions, took part in the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943. They fought fiercely to retake the Primosole Bridge.
The 16th Battalion landed in Italy in September 1943. They fought their way to Naples and helped break through the strong German Winter Line. In December 1944, the battalion was sent to Greece to help keep peace during the Greek Civil War.
The 1st Battalion returned to Italy in May 1944. They fought through the Gothic Line and continued advancing until the war in Italy ended in April 1945.
France and Germany (1944–1945)
The 50th Division, including the 151st Brigade, landed on Gold Beach during the Normandy landings in June 1944. They faced tough German resistance in the bocage countryside.
The 10th and 11th Battalions also landed in Normandy. They helped capture Rauray and held off German counter-attacks. After the breakout from Normandy, DLI units advanced through France and Belgium.
The 9th Battalion, now part of the 7th Armoured Division, fought in Germany in 1945, ending the war near Hamburg.
After World War II
After the war, the 1st Battalion served in the Greek Civil War until 1948. The 2nd Battalion served in Singapore and Burma.
In 1948, the 2nd Battalion was combined with the 1st Battalion. The DLI then served in Germany.
Fighting in the Korean War
In 1952, the 1st Battalion was sent to Korea to fight as part of the United Nations forces. Many of its soldiers were National Servicemen, meaning they were young men doing mandatory military service.
The DLI battalion was stationed at Neachon and Point 210, where they patrolled and tried to capture Chinese soldiers. In April 1953, they took over Point 355, known as "little Gibraltar."
On July 2, 1953, to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, DLI soldiers placed a large "EIIR" symbol in front of Chinese trenches. They then fired colored smoke and cheered for the Queen. The Chinese soldiers, surprisingly, did not attack.
The DLI fought until the ceasefire on July 27, 1953. They lost 24 soldiers and had 124 wounded. A journalist described the DLI soldiers as "small, cheerful, slightly disrespectful men who were at their best when things were most beastly."
Later Years and Amalgamation
After Korea, the 1st Battalion served in Egypt and helped repel a Yemeni attack. In 1958, a big parade was held at Brancepeth Castle to celebrate the regiment's history.
The DLI also served in Cyprus during the Cyprus Emergency and later in Germany and Hong Kong.
In 1965, the battalion was sent to Borneo to fight in the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation. They patrolled the jungle and took part in secret operations. A DLI soldier, Pte Thomas Griffiths, was the last combat fatality of the regiment in February 1966.
Finally, in 1968, the Durham Light Infantry joined with three other regiments to form The Light Infantry. The DLI became the 4th Battalion of this new regiment. On December 12, 1968, the DLI's colors (flags) were laid up in Durham Cathedral, marking the end of the regiment's independent history.
Brave Soldiers: Victoria Cross Winners
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest award for bravery in the British military. Eight DLI soldiers earned this honor:
- Pte Thomas Kenny (13th Battalion) on November 4, 1915, in France.
- Lieutenant Colonel Roland Boys Bradford (9th Battalion) on October 1, 1916, in France.
- Pte Michael Heaviside (15th Battalion) on May 5, 1917, in France.
- 2nd Lieut Frederick Youens (13th Battalion) on July 7, 1917, in Belgium.
- Capt Arthur Moore Lascelles (14th Battalion) on December 3, 1917, in France.
- Pte Thomas Young (9th Battalion) from March 25–31, 1918, in France.
- 2nd Lieut Richard Annand (2nd Battalion) on May 15, 1940, in Belgium.
- Pte Adam Herbert Wakenshaw (9th Battalion) on June 27, 1942, in Egypt.
Regimental Museum and Memorial
The DLI had its own museum in Durham, England. It opened in 1966 and showed uniforms, weapons, medals, and other items from the regiment's history. The museum closed in 2016.
However, the DLI Collection found new homes. In 2017, Durham University opened a new DLI Collection Gallery. More recently, in June 2024, a new history center called 'The Story' opened at Mount Oswald. It houses the DLI Archive and much of the collection.
Plans were also approved in 2024 to reopen and update the old DLI Museum and Art Gallery. An extension is being built, and the revamped museum is expected to reopen in spring 2026.
In July 2012, a special memorial for the Durham Light Infantry Association was dedicated at the National Memorial Arboretum.
