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2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
The 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry was a regular unit of the British Army. When war broke out in August 1914 they were based in Lichfield, serving with 18th Brigade, part of 6th Division.
In August 1914, they moved to Dunfermline then by the 13th August they were at Cambridge engaged in training. They proceeded to France on the 10th of September 1914, landing at St Nazaire and at once moving to reinforce the hard-pressed BEF on the Aisne.
They then moved North to Flanders and in 1915 saw action at Hooge. In 1916 they were on The Somme and in 1917 at Hill 70 and Cambrai. In 1918 they were again on the Somme then moved to Flanders in the Spring taking part in the fighting retreat as the German's advanced through Baillieul to Kemmel.
The 2nd DLI were in action during the Allied Advance in Flanders later that year and returned to the Cambrai area during Battles of the Hindenburg Line. The were billeted around Bohain at the Armistice on the 11th of November 1918 and the Division was selected to march into Germany as part of the occupation force.
4th Aug 1914 Orders
15th Aug 1914 On the Move
18th Aug 1914 Training
7th Sep 1914 Preparations
12th Sep 1914 On the Move
19th Sep 1914 Reliefs
20th Sep 1914 In Action
21st Sep 1914 Reliefs
22nd Sep 1914 Reliefs
6th Oct 1914 Outflanking Manoeuver
10th Oct 1914 On the Move
12th Oct 1914 Enemy Encountered
13th Oct 1914 In Action
15th Oct 1914 Advance
16th Oct 1914 Heroism
17th Oct 1914 Advance
18th Oct 1914 Advance
19th Oct 1914 Digging In
20th Oct 1914 In Action
20th Oct 1914 Attack
27th Oct 1914 Attack
30th Oct 1914 Ammunition Short
5th Dec 1914 Making the Most of It
1st Jan 1915 Trenches Like a River
7th Jan 1915 In the Trenches
7th Jan 1915 In the Flanders Trenches
13th February 1915 Enteric Fever Case notified Lt Haydon admitted to hospital suffering from Acute Bronchitis. Telegraphic orders received for Capt. T B Nicholls to take over No 1 Advanced Depot Medical Stores, Merville.
Lt. Hampton took over temporary medical charge of 5/Scottish Rifles from Capt. t B Nicholls.
Visited HQ of 2/Durham Light Infantry to enquire into contacts of a Pte Hall notified from the Base as suffering from Enteric Fever. All contacts to be sent to 19 Field Ambulance for examination as to being 'carriers'. War Diary 19th Field Ambulance RAMC, Armentières
6th Mar 1915 We are not Downhearted
5th Jun 1915 Shelling 
6th Jun 1915 Reliefs Complete
9th Jun 1915 Reliefs
17th Jun 1915 In the Trenches
17th Jun 1915 Trenches Taken Over
9th Aug 1915 Successful Attack
9th Aug 1915 Heavy Shelling
10th Aug 1915 Hell at Hooge
21st September 1915 Reliefs
26th September 1915 Quiet Day
16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme
1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets
11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment
10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens
9th February 1916 Call Ups
11th of February 1918 Relief
28th May 1918 Hard Fighting
20th of June 1918
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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Pte. Edmund Revely 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry (d.28th October 1914) Edmund Revely 11440 was born on 18 July 1891 in Hartlepool. Before he joined the Army he worked as a hand putter at Trimdon Colliery. He was 21 years of age when he joined up on the 5 September 1912.
Edmund became part of the 2nd Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry. During his time in service he was stationed first at Lichfield, then onto Cambridge which then led to them being sent to St Nazaire. The battles he was involved in included the battle of Armentieres and Aisne. Sadly, on the 28 October he lost his life after being killed in action. He was just 23 years of age.
He had a young wife at home, plus a two month old daughter who he never met. After his death, he was awarded the 1914 star, The Victory medal and the British War medal. He also received the commemorative plaque and scroll. His name is on the memorial wall at the Ploegsteert Memorial in Hainaut Belgium, St Aidan's church in Hartlepool, St Editha's church and St George's church in Tamworth.
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Pte. Anthony Burton 2nd Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.24th Sept 1918)  Anthony Burton born 1895, was my great grandfather. He was killed in action in France & Flanders on 24th of September 1918 aged just 22 years.
Before enlisting in the 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, he married my great grandmother Harriet Armstrong Corbett, born 1893. They met whilst his family were residing at 35 Bensham Terrace, Gateshead, Durham. Harriet's cousin Charlotte lived at 45 Bensham Terrace.
They married in 1914 and produced two daughters, Eleanor Burton born 1915 and Thelma Burton (my grandmother) in 1916.
Sadly he never got to see his two daughters grow up.
Anthony was the son of Henry Burton and Ellen Moodie and brother of Herbert, Sarah, Albert, Elizabeth, Quinton, Robert, John & Thomas Burton.
After the war he received the British war medal & Victory medal.
Such a tragic end to a young life. Nevertheless, a very brave man of whom his descendants are immensely proud.
He would have been the proud grandfather of five, great grandfather of ten and great great grandfather of nineteen.
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Pte. James Francis Collins 2nd Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.29th September 1914) James Collins served with the 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry in WW1. He died 29th of September 1914 at St Nazaire Hospital presumably after being wounded at Troyon on 20th of September 1914. He is buried St Nazaire (Toutes-Aides) Cemetery in France.
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Pte. George Jones MM. 19th Btn. Durham Light Infantry George Jones from Stockton on Tees served originally in 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry but was convicted of desertion on 23rd of December 1915.
He was transferred to 19th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry where he subsequently won a Military Medal for gallantry.
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Pte. Hubert Simpson 22nd Btn. Durham Light Infantry Hubert Simpson is my grandfather but I never got to meet him. He enlisted on 21st of March 1917 shortly after his eighteenth birthday, probably conscripted. At the time of his enlistment Hubert was working as a dyer in a textile mill in Morley, West Yorkshire. His regimental number upon enlistment was 92184. Hubert started training as a Private in the 11th Training Reserve Battalion in Brocton Camp. He was transferred to the 273rd Infantry Battalion on 8th of August 1917 and to the 52nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry on 1st of November 1917.
Hubert and my Grandmother, Naomi Batley, were married in Stockton-on-Tees on 2nd of March 1918. Naomi told me that after their wedding ceremony Hubert kissed her at the church gate and left to join his battalion. Hubert arrived in Etaples, France on 8th of March 1918 and was transferred to the 22nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry on 29th of March 1918. On 27th of May 1918 Hubert was reported missing in field. Hubert was confirmed a prisoner of war in Germany on 9th of July 1918 and Naomi received a letter advising her of his capture shortly thereafter. My Dad told me that Hubert was made to work in the coal mines in Germany while a prisoner of war. Hubert was not released from the camp until 31st of December 1918/1st of January 1919.
Hubert briefly returned to Morley, West Yorkshire after his release and apparently re-united with Naomi, my Dad was born in November 1919. On 20th of March 1919 Hubert was posted to the 3rd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Hubert was transferred again on 17th of May 1919 to the Royal Army Service Corps at Durrington Camp, Salisbury Plain. This is where he learned to drive a vehicle. Hubert was de-mobilized on 2nd of December 1919.
Hubert went back to his occupation as a dyer at the textile mill in Morley, West Yorkshire. He and Naomi had 4 children together but parted ways in 1944. That is when my Dad lost touch with Hubert and why I never got to meet Hubert.
Hubert died on 2nd February 1982 in Morley, West Yorkshire.
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Pte. William Raye 12th Btn. Durham Light Infantry Grandad, William Raye served with the Durham Light Infantry in WW1 and also listed in Perth, Western Australia for WW2. Sadly he died before I was old enough to hear his stores.
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Pte. George Hill 2nd Btn. Durham Light Infantry George Hill was taken POW in 1914 in Lille, according to the Red Cross records he was a POW in Hameln in February 1915. He returned to Jarrow when the war ended and later went on the Jarrow March.
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Pte. James Stanley Whitwell 2nd Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.23rd October 1918) My great uncle, Jim Whitwell was killed towards the end of the war at age of 21. He is buried at CWGC Amerval Communal Cemetery Extension.
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Pte. Francis Joseph Troddan 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry (d.15th Oct 1916) Frank Troddan served with the 2nd Durham Light Infantry.
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L/Sgt. William Mackey 12th Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.26th May 1917) William Mackey died on the Somme on the 26th May 1917.
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Pte. John Sanderson Hurdman MM 2nd Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.22nd March 1918) John Hurdman was the son of Mrs Rebecca Hurdman of 14 Zion Street, Sunderland. He died at 29 Casualty Clearing Station, Grevillers on 22nd March 1918 and is buried in Grevillers British Cemetery, Grave XI.E.8.
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Pte. Reginald Henry Culpin 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry (d.15th Jul 1918) Harry Cuplin signed up in the Leicestershire Regiment and for some reason transferred the the Durham Light Infantry.
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Matthew Bowes 22nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry William George Bowes a Framwellgate miner served with Durham Light Infantry
He left behind his wife and three children and joined the Durham Light Infantry in 1915.
He arrived in France during 1917 as part of the 22nd battalion.
Also in his battalion was his younger brother Robert, aged just 19.
William was killed in action on the 26th of March 1918 at the Battle of the Somme.
His younger brother was killed just four days later on the 30th of March.
Both men are commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial in France and on Saint Cuthbert's Church, Durham, Lychgate on the Durham Town Hall plaque and on the Durham City Comrades Club, plaque (now missing)
I would like to know more about them three but I would like to know what happen to Matthew Bowes?
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Pte. Thomas Patrick Smith 2nd Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.16th May 1915) Thomas Patrick Smith was born in 1885 in Sunderland, Co.Durham, England. Thomas was the third of the six sons of Michael and Myram (nee Wilkinson) Smith and enlisted in 1903 in the 3rd Durham Light Infantry. In the 1911 census he was serving in Nasirabad Rajputana, India. He married Eppleina Green in Sunderland in 1913. Thomas died, aged 30, on 16th May 1915 whilst serving in France and Flanders.
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Private John Hughes 2nd Battalion 4th Durham Light Infantry (d.19 November 1914) Private John Hughes fought in the Boer War and then went to France with the British Expeditionary Force during the early days of the First World War. He was killed in action (place unknown) on 19 November 1914, leaving a wife and six children.
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Pte James Raeburn 2nd Btn Durham Light Infantry (d.28th April 1916)
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Pte. William Franklin 2nd Btn Durham Light Infantry  My Granddad William Franklin was born on 12th. March 1889. He enlisted at Stratford, London on 12th. March 1907 - being his 18th birthday - in the Durham Light Infantry, (2nd. Battalion) no.9960. He served for 5 years of his army service as a regular and then went onto 3 years Army Reserve in 1912.
When war broke out on 4th August 1914 he saw on a poster on the police station notice board, High Road, Tottenham that all Army Reservists should report for duty at once. This he did and re-joined his old regiment and was part of the British Expeditionary Force of September 1914 that went to France and Flanders, "The Old Contemptibles" that distinguished themselves so gallantly in those early battles of 1914, and in 1915 and 1916. He was awarded 1914 Star (5th Aug. - 22nd Nov. 1914), 1914-1918 Medal and The Great War for Civiliisation 1914-1919.
He was transferred to the Royal Munster Fusiliers on 1st April 1917, served in Ireland and was discharged on 1st September 1917 as being no longer physically fit for War Service, aged 28 years and 174 days. He had served 8 years and 110 days with the Colours and 2 years and 64 days in the Army Reserve. His War Service was therefore 3 years and 28 days.
Although The Durham Light Infantry was an infantry regiment, Pte. William Franklin also obtained a Mounted Infantry Certificate in 1907. While he was in the army he married and went on to have 9 children of whom one was my Mum who was born 30th. October 1916. One of the children died during infancy in the 1920's. Two of the sons also went on to serve in the army during the 1939/45 war. William Franklin died in 1973, aged 84 years, having been an inspector on London Buses throughout his civilian life. Most of the family were evacuated to St. Leonards at the outbreak of war in 1939 and he retired there, working part-time as a porter in Marine Court, St. Leonards-on-Sea, having survived the London Blitz during WW2, and lived there until his death.
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Pte. St.Clair 2nd Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.18th Oct 1914) Pte St.Clair was killed in France on 1st Oct 1914. He was born in 1886 in St Marks Parish, South Shields. His attestation was in 1905 at Durham Barracks. His Mother was Elizabeth Atkinson St.Clair and Father William Henry Jones St Clair, a Pilot mariner. The rest of family moved south to London in 1911.
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Pte. Percy John Sweetingham 2nd Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.14th July 1918) My great granddad, Percy J Sweetingham served with the 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. He sadly died in 1918 on the 14th July.
I was wondering if anyone knows anything else about him ie. his age, where he was sent, where he died, where he is buried etc. I'm researching for my dad.
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Pte. George William Foster 2nd Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.9th Aug 1915) George William Foster was born in Shildon, Co. Durham in 1894, the second of 10 children. His mother Elizabeth had died just before the 1911 census returns were filled, leaving his father Thomas with 7 children at home. George was the eldest by this time, having lost his eldest sister some years before. Aged 16, he worked for the North Eastern Railway Co as an engine cleaner at Bank Top Station in Darlington.
In 1912, George joined the DLI TA. His father remarried and his second wife produced two further siblings for George and the others.
George went to war at the outset with 2 Durham Light Infantry and lasted a year before, along with too many other unfortunates, being killed in action at Hooges on 9th August 1915 aged 21. He never had the chance to have his own family, but is remembered by me, his great-niece. I would love to see a photograph of him, but do not know of the existence of any.
His brother John followed him to France just two-three months later. He was not quite 17. He was to be more fortunate than his brother.
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Recomended Reading.Available at discounted prices.
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The Steel of the DLI (2nd Bn 1914/18) John Sheen
Sheen's history has all of the insight and detail we have come to expect of modern scholarship, drawing deeply on official, regimental and private records. With many excellent photographs, most of which will not have been seen before, and lacing the battalion's history with the stories of individual officers and men, he takes us through the whole war from the battalion's first searing experiences on the Aisne, right through to the honour of advancing into Germany as part of the army of occupation. In between, the 1915 nightmares of Hooge, the latter stages of the Somme, Hill 70, Cambrai and ceaseless engagement in 1918. The story also brings out how the nature of the battalion inevitably changed, from wholly regular through mostly volunteer to conscript, yet managed to maintain an ethos and professional air throughout.
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