Great War> Allied Army

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site you agree to accept cookies. If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.     Site Home     Great War Home     Search     Add Stories & Photos     Library     Help & FAQs  Features     Allied Army     Day by Day     RFC & RAF     Prisoners of War     War at Sea     Training for War     The Battles     Those Who Served     Hospitals     Civilian Service     Women at War     The War Effort     Central Powers Army     Central Powers Navy     Imperial Air Service     Library     World War Two  Submissions     Add Stories & Photos     Time Capsule  Information     Help & FAQs     Glossary     Volunteering     News     Events     Contact us     Great War Books     About Advertisements World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment

7th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry     The 7th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry were a unit of the Territorial Force. HQ, A, B, C, D, E and F Companies were all based at the Drill Hall, Livinstone Rd, Sunderland with G and H Companies based in Stanhope Rd, South Shields. They were part of the DLI Brigade, Northumbrian Division. When war broke out in August 1914, they had just departed for their annual summer camp and were recalled immediately their home base. They were at once mobilsed and moved to the coastal defences by mid August, then to Ravensworth Park for training and by October were at Newcastle undertaking final training. They proceeded to France on the 17th of April 1915, landing at Boulogne and concentrating in the area of Steenvoorde, just as the German army attacked Ypres, using poison gas for the first time. The 50th Division were rushed into the battle. On the 14th of May 1915 the DLI Brigade was redesignated 151st Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division. They saw action in The Battle of St Julien, The Battle of Frezenburg Ridge and The Battle of Bellewaarde Ridge. On the 16th of November 1915 the 7th Durhams left 151st Brigade and converted into a Pioneer Battalion for 50th (Northumbrain) Division. In 1916 They fought on the Somme at The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, The Battle of Morval and The Battle of the Transloy Ridges. In 1917 they were in action at Arras during The First Battle of the Scarpe, The Capture of Wancourt Ridge and The Second Battle of the Scarpe before moving north for the Third Battle of Ypres. In 1918 they fought on the Somme, in the Battles of the Lys and The Battle of the Aisne, leaving the troops exhausted. On the 20th of June 1918 they transferred to 8th Division and on the 3rd of July absorbed the 22nd Durhams taking their place as Pioneer Battalion of the 8th Division and were in action in The Final Advance in Artois including the capture of Douai. 4th Aug 1914 Durham Territorials break camp  At Conway Camp in North Wales, reveille was sounded at 4am. The Territorials of the 6th, 7th and 8th Battalions Durham Light Infantry quickly broke camp and marched to the station to board special trains back to their County Durham bases to mobilize for war. 11th DLI Martin Bashforth 19th Apr 1915 On the Move 19th of April 1915 Establishing HQs 20th Apr 1915 On the Move 21st Apr 1915 On the Move 22nd Apr 1915 On Stand by 22nd Apr 1915 Inspection and Orders 22nd of April 1915 Germans Attack 22nd of April 1915 Standing by 23rd of April 1915 Under attack 23rd of April 1915 Northunberlands Transferred 23rd of April 1915 Divisional Movements 23rd Apr 1915 On the March   23rd Apr 1915 In Billets 24th of April 1915 Reserve Brigades 24th of April 1915 Transfer of Infantry 24th of April 1915 Units in position 24th Apr 1915 Into the Trenches   24th Apr 1915 Under Shellfire 24th of April 1915 Positions of Northumberland Division   25th of April 1915 Counter Attack 25th Apr 1915 On the March 26th Apr 1915 Heavy Casualties 26th Apr 1915 On the March   26th of April 1915 Confusion 27th Apr 1915 Under Shellfire 28th Apr 1915 Working Party 2nd May 1915 On the March 3rd May 1915 On the March 3rd of May 1915 Orders 3rd of May 1915 Divisional Area Allotted 3rd of May 1915 Orders 4th May 1915 Into Billets 4th of May 1915 CinC to address troops 5th May 1915 Congratulations 6th May 1915 Route March 7th May 1915 Water 8th May 1915 On the March 9th May 1915 Enemy Aircraft 11th May 1915 Into the Trenches 12th May 1915 Working Party 14th May 1915 In Reserve 15th May 1915 In Reserve 15th of May 1915 Concentration west of Ypres 16th May 1915 Working Party 17th May 1915 Into Huts 18th May 1915 In Camp 19th May 1915 Working Parties 20th May 1915 Working Parties 20th of May 1915 Movement orders 21st May 1915 Into the Trenches 22nd May 1915 In the Line 23rd May 1915 Withdrawn 24th May 1915 Gas 25th May 1915 In the Trenches 26th May 1915 In Bivouacs 28th May 1915 Into Camp 31st May 1915 Inspection 31st of May 1915 Report 1st Jun 1915 On the March 2nd Jun 1915 Training 4th Jun 1915 On the March   6th Jun 1915 Into Support   7th Jun 1915 Route Recce 7th of June 1915 DLI in position   9th Jun 1915 Reliefs Completed 10th Jun 1915 Trench Recce 11th Jun 1915 Recce of Trenches 12th Jun 1915 Reliefs Completed 12th Jun 1915 Reliefs Complete 13th Jun 1915 Trench Work 16th Jun 1915 Rapid Fire 17th Jun 1915 Reliefs 18th Jun 1915 In Support 19th Jun 1915 Trench Work 20th Jun 1915 On the March 20th Jun 1915 Reliefs Completed 20th of June 1915 GOC inspection 21st Jun 1915 On the March 21st June 1915 149th into billets   22nd Jun 1915 On the March 23rd Jun 1915 In Huts 25th Jun 1915 Machine Guns sent up 27th Jun 1915 Reliefs 27th Jun 1915 Reliefs 28th Jun 1915 Trench Work 30th Jun 1915 Reinforcements 3rd Jul 1915 Reliefs   3rd Jul 1915 Reliefs 4th Jul 1915 Reliefs Completed   4th Jul 1915 Working Parties 6th Jul 1915 Working Parties 7th Jul 1915 Working Parties 8th Jul 1915 Working Parties 9th Jul 1915 Reliefs Completed   12th Jul 1915 Trench Visit 13th Jul 1915 Enemy Active 14th Jul 1915 Enemy Mine Explodes 15th Jul 1915 Reliefs Completed 16th Jul 1915 On the March 17th Jul 1915 On the March 19th Jul 1915 In Billets 20th Jul 1915 Musketry 21st Jul 1915 Inspection 22nd Jul 1915 Companies in Reserve 24th Jul 1915 Reliefs 30th Jul 1915 Appointment 31st Jul 1915 Trench Visit 1st Aug 1915 Reliefs Completed 4th Aug 1915 Grenadiers 5th Aug 1915 Inspection 8th Aug 1915 Change of Billets 9th Aug 1915 Recce 10th Aug 1915 Range Practice 13th Aug 1915 Reliefs 17th of Aug 1915  19th Aug 1915 Reliefs Completed 21st Aug 1915 Inspection 26th Aug 1915 Reliefs 28th Aug 1915 Trench Visit 31st Aug 1915 Reliefs 2nd Sep 1915 Lecture 4th Sep 1915 Communication Exercise 4th Sep 1915 Training 5th Sep 1915 Working Party 8th Sep 1915 Inspection 9th Sep 1915 Route March 12th Sep 1915 Reliefs Completed 12th Sep 1915 Reliefs 13th Sep 1915 Fire 14th Sep 1915 Under Shellfire 15th Sep 1915 Officers Attached 19th Sep 1915 Reliefs Completed 20th Sep 1915 Working Parties 22nd Sep 1915 Working Parties 24th Sep 1915 Ready to Move 26th Sep 1915 Reliefs 27th September 1915 Shelling 28th Sep 1915 Patrols 29th Sep 1915 Snipers Active 30th Sep 1915 Patrols 2nd Oct 1915 Patrols 3rd Oct 1915 Patrols 4th Oct 1915 Enemy Quiet 6th Oct 1915 Relief Plan 8th Oct 1915 Reliefs 11th Oct 1915 Attack Planned 11th Oct 1915 Route March 12th Oct 1915 Bomb School 14th Oct 1915 Reliefs 15th Oct 1915 Enemy Quiet 16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme 16th Oct 1915 Instruction 17th Oct 1915 Patrols 18th Oct 1915 Patrols 19th Oct 1915 Patrols 22nd Oct 1915 Trench Visit 23rd Oct 1915 Reliefs Completed 25th Oct 1915 Route March 26th Oct 1915 Reliefs Completed 27th Oct 1915 Royal Inspection 28th Oct 1915 Patrols 29th Oct 1915 Instruction 31st Oct 1915 Reinforcements 2nd Nov 1915 Heavy Rain 4th Nov 1915 Reliefs Completed 6th Nov 1915 Working Parties 7th Nov 1915 Reliefs Completed 8th Nov 1915 Snipers Active 9th Nov 1915 Instruction 10th Nov 1915 Instruction 12th Nov 1915 Reliefs Completed 13th Nov 1915 On the March 16th Nov 1915 New Pioneers 16th Nov 1915 Drill 16th November 1915 Pioneers 22nd Nov 1915 Pioneer Training 22nd November 1915 Instruction 23rd Nov 1915 Training 24th Nov 1915 Route March 26th Nov 1915 Training and Route March 27th Nov 1915 Training 28th Nov 1915 Instruction 29th Nov 1915 Route March 30th Nov 1915 Practice Attack 1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets 5th December 1915 Orders 11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment 11th December 1915 Orders 13th December 1915 Orders   13th December 1915 Order   13st December 1915 Orders   13th December 1915 Reliefs   13th December 1915 Orders   15th December 1915 Advance Parties 17th December 1915 On the Move 18th December 1915 On the Move 19th of December 1915 On the Move   20th of December 1915    10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens 16th January 1916 Visit 16th January 1916 Reorganisation   17th Jan 1916 In the Chateau 29th of January 1916 Machine Gun Emplacements   29th January 1916 Machine Guns   30th January 1916 Snipers   31st January 1916 Enemy Lines   2nd February 1916 Aeroplane Photographs   4th February 1916 Reliefs   4th February 1916 Enemy Guns 4th February 1916 Enemy Artillery   5th February 1916 Shelling 5th February 1916 Shelling   5th February 1916 Snipers 5th February 1916 Uniforms 7th February 1916 Shelling   7th February 1916 Artillery Active   9th February 1916 Orders   9th February 1916 Call Ups 11th February 1916 Warning 11th February 1916 Enemy Active   12th February 1916 Gas Alert   12th February 1916 Quieter   14th Feb 1916 On Stand by   15th February 1916 Orders   21st February 1916 Snow 22nd February 1916 Gas 22nd February 1916 Orders   22nd of February 1916 Machine Guns   23rd February 1916 Warning 25th February 1916 Dangerous Wind 26th February 1916 Hostile Artillery   28th February 1916 Dummys 28th February 1916 Orders   29th February 1916 Report 29th February 1916 Orders   1st of March 1916 Bombardment   2nd March 1916 Orders 6th of March 1916 Orders   7th of March 1916 Orders   7th of March 1916 Orders 9th of March 1916 Orders   10th of March 1916 Orders   10th of March 1916 Orders   13th Mar 1916 Concert 16th of March 1916 Orders   18th of March 1916 Orders   20th of March 1916 Orders   23rd of March 1916 Reliefs   25th of March 1916 Trench Work 28th of March 1916 On the March   28th of March 1916 Orders   30th of March 1916 orders   31st of March 1916 Strengths 31st of March 1916 Orders   28th of March 1916 Orders   5th of April 1916 Orders   5th of April 1916 Orders   6th of April 1916 Orders   15th of April 1916 Orders   15th of April 1916 Orders 21st of April 1916 Support Line   26th of April 1916 Aircraft Downed   27th Apr 1916 Inspection 30th of April 1916 Stand To 30th of April 1916 At Rest   4th of May 1916 Relief 14th of May 1916 Training & Sport 18th of May 1916 Orders 20th of May 1916 Orders   20th of May 1916 Orders   24th of May 1916 Orders 25th of May 1916 Orders 25th of May 1916 Moves   25th of May 1916 Moves   28th of May 1916 Trench Work   14th of June 1916 Tinme 14th of June 1916 Orders   30th of June 1916 Orders   8th of July 1916  19th of July 1916    21st of July 1916 Orders   21st of July 1916    24th of July 1916    1st of August 1916 Gas 2nd of August 1916 Alert 4th of August 1916    5th of August 1916    6th of August 1916 Orders   10th of August 1916  14th of August 1916 Orders 14th of August 1916 Orders 15th of August 1916  15th of August 1916 Orders 16th of August 1916 Orders   17th of August 1916  1st of September 1916 Locations 1st Sep 1916 Flies   2nd Sep 1916 Wet Day   3rd Sep 1916 Orders Received   4th Sep 1916 Billets   7th of September 1916    7th Sep 1916 Conference   11th Sep 1916 Return to Duty   13th of September 1916 Instructions   13th of September 1916 Orders   13th of September 1916    16th of September 1916 Ground Gained   21st of September 1916  Operational Orders   21st Sep 1916 Poor Sanitation   24th of September 1916 Reliefs   24th of September 1916 Orders   25th of September 1916 Attacks   27th of September 1916 Instructions 29th of September 1916 Orders   29th of September 1916 Message 29th of September 1916 Message   29th of September 1916 Orders   2nd of October 1916 Orders 2nd of October 1916 Orders 3rd of October 1916 Reliefs   3rd of October 1916 Congratulations 9th of October 1916 Working Parties 19th of October 1916 Orders   22nd of October 1916 Situation 22nd of October 1916 Orders   22nd of October 1916 Signals 23rd of October 1916 Orders 23rd of October 1916  26th of October 1916 Orders   26th of October 1916 Orders 26th of October 1916 Orders   28th of October 1916 Orders 28th of October 1916  30th of October 1916 Orders   31st of October 1916 Orders 31st of October 1916  31st of October 1916 Orders   2nd of November 1916 Instructions 2nd of November 1916 Orders   2nd of November 1916 Shelling   3rd of November 1916 Orders   3rd of November 1916 Orders   4th of November 1916 Secret   14th Nov 1916 7th DLI In Action 7th of December 1916  26th of December 1916  27th of November 1916  1st of April 1916  2nd of April 1916  21st of April 1916    4th of January 1917  12th of January 1917  19th of January 1917    19th of January 1917  21st of January 1917  22nd of January 1917  24th of January 1917  26th of January 1917  28th of January 1917    31st of January 1917  13th of February 1917    6th of March 1917  13th of March 1917  25th of March 1917  27th of March 1917  31st of March 1917  1st of April 1917  4th of April 1917  9th of April 1917  10th of April 1917  12th of April 1917 Very Cold West Day 13th of April 1917    20th of April 1917    23rd Apr 1917 Attack and Counter Attack 25th of April 1917    30th of April 1917  1st of May 1917 Orders 15th of May 1917   19th of May 1917 Concentration 23rd of May 1917 Dispositions 24th of May 1917  25th of May 1917  27th of May 1917  29th of May 1917  30th of May 1917  31st of May 1917  15th Jul 1917 New Line 16th Jul 1917 Trench Work 17th Jul 1917 Trench Work 2nd of September 1917 Intelligence   3rd of September 1917 Intelligence   3rd of September 1917 Intelligence 4th of September 1917 Intelligence   5th of September 1917 Intelligence   6th of September 1917 Intelligence   7th of September 1917 Intelligence   8th of September 1917 Intelligence   9th of September 1917 Intelligence   9th of September 1917 Intelligence   10th of September 1917 Intelligence   11th of September 1917 Intelligence   12th of September 1917 Intelligence   13th of September 1917 Intelligence   14th of September 1917 Intelligence   15th of September 1917 Intelligence   16th of September 1917 Intelligence   16th of September 1917 Intelligence   17th of September 1917 Intelligence   18th of September 1917 Intelligence   19th of September 1917 Intelligence   20th of September 1917 Intelligence   21st of September 1917 Intelligence   22nd of September 1917 Intelligence   22nd of September 1917 Intelligence   23rd of September 1917 Intelligence   24th of September 1917 Intelligence   26th of September 1917 Intelligence   27th of September 1917 Intelligence   28th of September 1917 Intelligence   28th of September 1917 Intelligence 29th of September 1917 Intelligence   30th of September 1917 Intelligence   1st of October 1917 Intelligence   1st of October 1917 Orders 1st of October 1917 Orders Received 4th of October 1917 Intelligence   12th of October 1917 Orders 12th of October 1917 Orders 12th of October 1917 Orders 18th of October 1917 Orders 22nd of October 1917 Orders   22nd of October 1917    23rd of October 1917 Orders   24th of October 1917 Orders   26th of October 1917 Orders 27th of October 1917 Movement   27th of October 1917 Intelligence   28th of October 1917 Intelligence   29th of October 1917 Intelligence   30th of October 1917 Intelligence   31st of October 1917 Intelligence   1st of November 1917 Warning 3rd of November 1917 Orders   8th of November 1917 Orders   13th of November 1917 Dispositions   6th of December 1917  18th of December 1917 Intelligence   19th of December 1917 Intelligence   19th of December 1917 Intelligence 20th of December 1917 Intelligence   21st of December 1917 Intelligence   22nd of December 1917 Intelligence   23rd of December 1917 Intelligence   24th of December 1917 Intelligence   25th of December 1917 Intelligence   25th of December 1917 Intelligence   26th of December 1917 Intelligence   1st of January 1918  19th of January 1918 Orders 20th of January 1918  21st of January 1918  24th of January 1918  24th of January 1918    31st of January 1918 Orders 15th of February 1918 Orders   26th of February 1918 Orders 15th of March 1918  15th of March 1918  19th Jun 1918 From the Line 23rd of March 1918 Orders   23rd of March 1918    24th of March 1918 Message 1st of April 1918 Operations   3rd of April 1918 Orders 3rd of April 1918 Orders 6th of April 1918 Orders 7th of April 1918 Orders   12th Apr 1918 In Action   13th of April 1918 Report   15th of April 1918 Orders 15th of April 1918 Orders   16th of April 1918 into Billets 1st May 1918 Field Day 5th of May 1918 Orders 5th of May 1918  27th May 1918 In Action 27th of May 1918 In Action 28th of May 1918 Orders 30th of May 1918  5th Jun 1918 Into the Line 7th of June 1918 Reliefs 10th of June 1918  16th of June 1918  20th of June 1918  23rd Jun 1918 On the Move If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Want to know more about 7th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry? There are:5726 items tagged 7th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry available in our Library   These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War. Those known to have served with 7th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry during the Great War 1914-1918. Archibald VC. Adam. Spr. Bergman Thomas. Pte. Canham Robert Dixon. Pte. (d.11th Apr 1918) Carswell-Hunt MC. William David. Mjr. (d.5th Apr 1917) Dale Robert Addison. Pte. Drakesmith Henry. Pte. (d.26th May 1915) Edwards John William. Pte. (d.25th May 1915) Hails William. Pte. (d.30th May 1916) Hancock William Carter. Pte. (d.29th May 1915) Harrison John William Scott. Pte. Haswell Robert. Pte. (d.5th Apr 1918) Lanaghan William. Pte. (d.27th May 1918) Liddle Robert William. Pte. (d.1st June 1918) Manley Thomas Henry . L/Cpl (d.27th May 1918) Mason William Sewell. Pte. (d.27th May 1918) O'Hara John. Sgt. (d.21st Apr 1917) Onslow John Charles. Pte. Shepherd Tom. Pte. (d.3rd Nov 1917) Tate Andrew. Pnr. (d.17th April 1917) Taylor Michael. Pte. (d.22nd October 1917) Tovell John George. Pte. (d.23rd Jun 1916) Warren Temperly. Pte. Wilson Albert Sanderson. Pte. (d.2nd June 1918) All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List Records of 7th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry from other sources. The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website. 1st of September 2024 marks 25 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time. Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the Great War? Our Library contains many many diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. Looking for help with Family History Research?    Please see Family History FAQ's Please note: We are unable to provide individual research. Can you help? The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web. If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation. Announcements 19th Nov 2024     Please note we currently have a massive backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 264989 your submission is still in the queue, please do not resubmit. Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to the Great War. If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted. World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great battalion regiment artillery Did you know? We also have a section on World War Two. and a Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.   Pte. John William Scott Harrison 7th Btn. Durham Light Infantry My Great Grandfather, John William Harrison served in the early days of WW1 as he enlisted 5 Sep 1914 and was wounded (shot in the face)sometime around 1915-1916. He was discharged on 24 Apr 1916 due to wounds. There are photos of him that clearly show his face being disfigured and from family it was said he was never the same man. I have found his silver badge and medal rolls card but have had no luck finding his pension or service records (Burned during WWII?). Simon Harrison Add to this record.   Pte. John William Edwards 7th Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.25th May 1915) John Edwards died of wounds on the 25th of May 1915, aged 25. Buried in the Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension in France, he was the son of John William Edwards deceased, and Jane Bewick (nee Scott), and was born at 38 East Holborn, South Shields, Durham on 13 May 1890. He left a wife, Mary Eleanor, a daughter, Mary Eleanor aged nearly 3 and another daughter, Florence May aged 7 months. The photo at Bailleul was taken by his great-great-granddaughter, Michelle, on a trip to Europe from Australia in 2002 and she is believed to be the first family member to visit his grave. s flynn Add to this record.   Pte. Robert Haswell 9th Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (d.5th Apr 1918) On 8th of April 1915, Robert Haswell enlisted into the 7th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. On 19th of April, his battalion left Newcastle railway station for France. On 21st of September 1916 and then again on 28th of September, he was wounded at Thiepval and Schwaben Redoubt, respectively. At some point, he transferred to the 9th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment He died on 5th of April 1918 and is buried at Cambrin Military Cemetery in Pas de Calais, France. Susan Dearey Add to this record.   Pte. William Carter Hancock 1st/7th Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.29th May 1915) William Hancock fought in WW1 and was my second great-uncle. Enlisting in South Shields, he was part of the Durham Light Infantry, 1st/7th Battalion. He died of wounds on 29th of May 1915 at Rawalpindi British General Hospital. This is the only information I have so far, and if anyone knows anything else I would be very grateful to receive more information. Rebecca Hancock Add to this record.   Pte. Tom Shepherd 7th Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.3rd Nov 1917) Tom Shepherd is buried at Dozinghem Military Cemetery, in Belgium.He was the son of Thomas Shepherd and Eliza Alice Spelman Shepherd Robertson. He enlisted in 1914 at South Shields. He is believed by the family to have died in of poison gas inhalation. His mother Eliza was able to visit his grave at some point before her death, and her trip was paid for by the British Army. Bonnie Follett Add to this record.   Pte. Temperly Warren 7th Btn. Durham Light Infantry Temperly Warren enlisted on the 6th of May 1914, aged 19. He landed in Boulogne in April 1915, and saw action through that year. He survived being blown up in 1916 and was sent to No 5 Convalescent Depot, then home to recover and finally he was medically discharged in August 1916 aged 21. Makes you think doesn't it? He went on to become my grandfather, a lovely man, very fondly remembered. He ate a fry up every day, smoked anything he could put in his pipe and made his own beer and wine and enjoyed drinking it too. Pneumonia finally claimed him in 1977 at the age of 82. I've just been reading through his service papers today on the 100th anniversary of the armistice. Here's to you Grandad! Having a beer in your memory. Howard Warren Add to this record.   Pte. Robert William Liddle 1/7th Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.1st June 1918) Billy Liddle was the older brother of my grandfather. He enlisted on 22nd of August 1917, joining the 1/7th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry on the 7th of April, 1918. From what I have learned he would've joined them at the Battle of Lys, and was captured and killed in action from Allied air bombardment. He is buried at the Anzac Cemetary, Sailly-Sur-La-Lys. His inscription reads, "We are the dead if Ye break faith with us we shall not sleep". Add to this record.   Pte. Albert Sanderson Wilson 1/7th Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.2nd June 1918) Private Albert Wilson was my grandmother's brother. I cannot find his birth date but I have discovered that he is buried in Cologne. Roger Mansell Add to this record.   Pte. Michael Taylor 15th Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.22nd October 1917) Michael Taylor was a regular soldier, he enlisted in 7th Battalion Durham Light Infantry in 1911. In 1916 he was a lance corporal. He was discharged in the summer of 1916 but he re-enlisted on Christmas Day 1916 and joined 15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. Michael Taylor was killed in action on 22nd October 1917 at Ypres. He has no known grave and is listed on the Tyne Cot Memorial. John M Smith Add to this record.   L/Cpl Thomas Henry Manley 5th Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.27th May 1918) Harry Manley enlisted at Leicester town hall in November 1915 and joined the Durham Light Infantry regiment. He was at the Somme in August 1916. 7th Battalion D.L.I pioneers moved to Ypres and where they were attached to 9th Battalion Durham L.I. Harry was wounded and gassed at Ypres in November 1917 and sent to Endell Street Military Hospital in London. He was sent back to France in April 1918 and posted to 5th battalion Durham Light Infantry at Pontavert on the Aisne. He was killed in action on the 27th May 1918, aged 21. He is buried at Hermonville Military Cemetery, France. Peter Manley Add to this record.   Pte. John Charles Onslow 5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry The register for entitlement to the Victory medal and British War medal shows Jack Onslow as and also having served in the 7th and 9th Battalions. Liz Manning Add to this record.   Pte. William Sewell Mason 7th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (d.27th May 1918) William Sewell Mason served with the 7th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, he was aged 21 when he died on 27th May 1918. Born in Boldon in Colliery 1897 he was the son of John and Catherine Mason (nee Wigham) of Carman Villa, Monkton Village, Jarrow. on the 1911 census William Sewell Mason age 14 Labourer in Shipyard is listed as living with his parents John and Catherine Mason and family at 15 Ash Street, Hebburn. He lived in Hebburn Colliery when he enlisted in Jarrow. William is remembered on the Soissons Memorial. Vin Mullen Add to this record.   Pte. William Lanaghan 1st/7th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (d.27th May 1918) William Lanaghan died aged 17, he was born in Jarrow on the 23rd October 1900, son of John Patrick and Charlotte Anne Lanaghan (nee Robson). In the 1911 Census he is listed as William Lanaghan, age 10, at School, living with his parents John & Charlotte Lanaghan & his siblings at 43, Commercial Road, Jarrow. For some unknown reason he is down as James Lanaghan on his Medal Index Card, perhaps he had used his brother's details to enlist underage? He had an older brother James who was discharged from the 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment on the 7th February 1917 due to losing a leg. William is remembered on the Soissons Memorial and on the Triptych in St. Paul's Church, Jarrow. Vin Mullen Add to this record.   Pte. John George Tovell 7th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (d.23rd Jun 1916) John Tovell died age 19, born in Jarrow 1896, son of John and Elizabeth Tovell of 20 Sheldon Street Jarrow. He enlisted in Jarrow. John is buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension (Nord). Vin Mullen Add to this record.   Pte. William Hails 7th Btn Durham Light Infantry (d.30th May 1916) William Hails died aged 24. Born in South Shields he lived in Jarrow. He was the son of Elizabeth Jane Hails (nee Burnside) and the late James Hails of South Shields and the husband of Dora Johnson (formerly Hails nee Jobson) of 25 Philipson Street East Jarrow. On the 1911 census William Hails age 19 Lamp Lighter is recorded as living with his widowed mother Elizabeth Hails in South Shields. He enlisted at South Shields. William is buried in La Laiterie Military Cemetery. Vin Mullen Add to this record.   Mjr. William David Carswell-Hunt MC. 7th Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.5th Apr 1917) William David Carswell-Hunt served with the 6th and 7th Battalions Durham Light Infantry and died age 44 on the 5th April 1917. He is buried in St. Pol Communal Cemetery Extension. William was born in Kirkaldy, Fife, husband of Margaret A. Carswell-Hunt of 30 Henry Street Jarrow. William David Carswell-Hunt age 39 Manager of Botanic Brewing is with his wife Margaret A. Carswell-Hunt and family at 24 Hunter Street, South Shields on the 1911 census. Vin Mullen Add to this record.   Pte. Robert Dixon Canham 1/7th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (d.11th Apr 1918) Robert Dixon Canham aged 35, died on 11th April 1918 whilst serving with the 1/7th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. He was born, lived and enlisted in Jarrow. He was the son of George and Isabella Canham and husband of Margaret Canham (nee Purvis) of 3 Randolph Street Jarrow. Robert is remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial and was commemorated on the Triptych (right panel) in St. Mark's Church Jarrow (it is no longer a Church) Vin Mullen Add to this record.   Spr. Adam Archibald VC. 218th Field Coy. Royal Engineers Adam Archibald enlisted with the 7th Durham Light Infantry in 1915. He transferred to the 218th Field Company, Royal Engineers during the Second Battle of the Sambre. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for action while his unit was attempting to bridge the Sambre–Oise Canal, he was 39 years old. He received his medal from King George V at Buckingham Palace in May 1919. His citation reads: "On 4 November 1918 near Ors, France, Sapper Archibald was with a party building a floating bridge across the canal. He was foremost in the work under a very heavy artillery barrage and machine-gun fire. The latter was directed at him from a few yards distance while he was working on the cork floats. Nevertheless he persevered in his task and his example and efforts were such that the bridge which was essential to the success of the operations was very quickly completed. Immediately afterwards Sapper Archibald collapsed from gas poisoning." Add to this record. Recomended Reading. Available at discounted prices. The Fighting Pioneers - The Story of the 7th Battalion DLI Clive Dunn Story of the 7th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. With the creation of the Territorial Force in 1908 the battalion was re-designated as the 7th Battalion. It went to France in April 1915 with the rest of the Northumbrian Division seeing action almost immediately at the Second battle of Ypres. In November 1915 the battalion was picked to become the divisional pioneers. The 1/7 Battalion suffered 600 fatalities. In 1920 when the Territorial Army was reformed it was re-raised in its original role as infantry. The story concludes on 10 December 1936 when the 7th Battalion Durham Light Infantry became the 47th (Durham Light Infantry) A.A. Battalion R.E. (T.A.), whose personnel went on to serve in the Second World War. More information on: The Fighting Pioneers - The Story of the 7th Battalion DLI Links Suggest a link

The free section of The Wartime Memories Project is run by volunteers. This website is paid for out of our own pockets, library subscriptions and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources and we currently have a huge backlog of submissions. If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running. Hosted by: The Wartime Memories Project Website is archived for preservation by the British Library Copyright MCMXCIX - MMXXIV - All Rights Reserved - We do not permit the use of any content from this website for the training of LLMs or for use in Generative AI, it also may not be scraped for the purpose of creating other websites.