4th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry


The 4th Battalion Durham Light Infantry were based at Fenham Barracks, Newcastle upon Tyne. They were at Barnard Castle when war broke out in August 1914 and were at once mobilised and moved the Tyne defences.
In December the battalion moved to Killingworth then to Forest Hall in January 1915 and finally to Seaham Harbour in September 1915, where it then remained as part of the Tyne Garrison.

   3/4th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry was formed in early 1915 and served in a training role at Catterick Camp. In September 1916 it moved to Newcastle and was absorbed by the 3/5th Battalion.

   4th (Reserve) Battalion Durham Light Infantry were a regular unit of the British Army. When war broke out in August 1914 they were based at Barnard Castle, Co Durham.

9th of October 1915 Orders

10th October 1915 Orders

16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme

7th November 1915 Reliefs

1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets

11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment

10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens

19th Jan 1916 Relief Complete

25th Jan 1916 Reliefs

30th Jan 1916 Reliefs

9th February 1916 Call Ups

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There are:5245 items tagged 4th 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
4th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
during the Great War 1914-1918.

Brettell Edwin. Pte. (d.16th Sep 1916)
Cant Ernest. Pte. (d.14th Oct 1918)
Charlton James Younger. Pte (d.26th Aug 1918)
Denham Matthew. Pte.
Edwards Sydney. Pte.
Egglestone Henry. Pte. (d.9th Aug 1918)
Embleton John. Pte.
Farrar J.. Pte.
Farrell James. Sgt. (d.29th August 1916)
Goundry Henry. Pte. (d.15th Oct 1916)
Hammond Sutton. Pte.
Jacob A. R.. 2nd Lt.
Lodge B. G.. 2nd Lt.
Makepeace Samuel Mallet. Pte. (d.6th Aug 1917)

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Pte. Samuel Mallet Makepeace 4th Batt. Durham Light Infantry (d.6th Aug 1917)

Samuel Mallet Makepeace was 5â€™6â€ tall, weighed 125lbs and had a 35â€ chest, excellent vision, and the sparkling blue eyes that only appear once or twice in each generation of the Makepeace family. By all accounts, he was quite popular with the ladies but eventually got engaged to Mary Byrne of 45 Northbourne Street, in July 1914. Shortly after this date, he converted to Roman Catholic to the horror of his parents who disowned him and turfed him out of the family home. He moved in with Mary (who was already pregnant with his child) and her family at Northbourne Street. On 26th September, 1914, he married Mary at St. Josephâ€™s Roman Catholic Church in Gateshead and they moved to 69 Arthur Street, just off Prince Consort Road. Their daughter, Elizabeth Teresa, was born on 9 April 1915.
On 3 December 1915, Samuel enlisted at Newcastle and was posted to the Army Reserve as he was in a reserved occupation however on 2 November 1916, he received correspondence releasing him from his work with the railway and ordering him to take his place in the Army. He was posted on 17 November to the 4th Batt. Durham Light Infantry (DLI) as Private 39419 S Makepeace and the following day departed to Seaham Harbour Training Camp.
During his time there he was reprimanded twice â€“ the first time on 8 December 1916 for being in the canteen during parade hours (for which he was fined 3 days loss of pay) and the second on 2 February 1917 for overstaying his embarkation leave by 11 hours â€“ he had to forfeit two days leave for this. I wonder if he might have overstayed for longer had he known that this would be the last time he would see his wife and daughter?
The entire Battalion left Seaham Harbour by train on 8th February bound for Folkestone where they arrived the following day and boarded the SS Victoria which took them to Boulogne where they disembarked the following morning. Four days later, Samuel and his comrades were posted to the 14th Batt. DLI, Officer Commanding 35th Infantry Batt. at Etapes. They did see action there but very little is recorded of the minor skirmishes that took place at that time. On 5 March, orders were received that the men were to be re-posted to the 15th Batt. DLI and they undertook a four-day march joining the Battalion on the battlefield immediately they arrived on 9 March.
Samuel was caught in a gas attack on 13 April 1917, during the Battle of Arras and was moved to the VII Corps Main Dressing Station at Boisieux-au-Mont, two days later. Considering that he was unlikely to recover so near to the battlefront, he was moved to the 43rd Casualty Clearing Station on 29 April. But he did recover and returned to the Officer Commanding 35th Infantry Battalion at Etapes on 26th May, re-joining his regiment on 2nd June and arriving back at the frontline on 10th June.
On 4th August 1917, he was badly wounded â€“ his legs were blown off in a shell attack by the Huns eager to get back the two or three yards of territory that they had lost. Samuel died from his wounds at the 20th Casualty Clearing Station on 6 August 1917 and was buried in the Bucquouy Road Cemetery near the village of Ficheux. In 1920, following the re-organisation of War Graves, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission erected a headstone to Samuelâ€™s memory marking the spot where his grave now lies. This headstone records the date of his death incorrectly and an appeal has been made for a correction.
Meanwhile back in Englandâ€¦ Samuelâ€™s wife, Mary and daughter Elizabeth Teresa, moved from 69 to 71 Arthur Street in 1917 and a little later that year to 19 Margaret Street, Washington. The War Office, upon receiving a telegram of Samuelâ€™s death, telegraphed the Infantry Battalion HQ at York who duly issued the telegram to Mary. I was initially very surprised to find that this has survived and is in the National Archive but it made sense when I read the next document that advised that the telegram had not been delivered as she had moved away and not provided a forwarding address. It was not until February 1918 that Mary must have realised that Samuel was dead and contacted the War Office. She made a claim for and eventually received his medals (the British War Medal and the Victory Medal) and also made a claim for a widowâ€™s pension for her and Elizabeth. To get the pension, she had to provide proof of family connection and here she became a bit stuck.
Following Samuelâ€™s conversion to the RC faith, his family had disowned him and Mary was not made welcome in the family home. As the years had elapsed she had probably forgotten Samâ€™s parents and brothers and sisters and those she could recollect and their addresses, she got confused on the official claim form. Nevertheless, she was granted a pension of 18s 9d per week. She later lost this when custody of their child was passed to her mother-in-law. What became of Mary we do not know. Elizabeth Teresa was sent to a Catholic Childrens' home in 1928 where she remained until her death in 1999 - unknown to any family born after WW1.
Richard Jennings

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Pte. Ernest Cant 4th Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.14th Oct 1918)

My great great uncle Ernest Cant died at Lambinowice POW Camp Hospital on 14th of October 1918, possibly from Spanish Flu. Originally buried in POW cemetery but reburied in Berlin South Western Cemetery after WW1 ended. He was the youngest son of a large family. His eldest brother was killed five years later in a pit disaster.
Sue Cant

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Pte. Edwin Brettell 10th Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.16th Sep 1916)

Edwin Brettell was a twin, both he and his brother enlisted. Edwin enlisted in the army for WWI on 24th April 1916 and joined the 4th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. He was 21 years and 9 months old when he enlisted at Sunderland 19th of April 1916. He transferred to the 10th Battalion in France on 22nd of August 1916 and died on 16th of September 1916 at Gird Lines near Gueudecourt. All we know is that his sister Minnie was absolutely devastated and each year it affected her on Remembrance Day. His great niece Stephanie (my mother) always thinks of her grandmother Minnie and she remembers her being upset thinking about her brother. Unfortunately, we don't have any photos and, sadly, no stories to tell.
Keren Hayles

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Pte. John Embleton 4th Battalion Durham Light Infantry

John Embleton joined the Durham Light Infantry on 16th of September 1914 at Sacriston. He was part of the Expeditory in France from 20th April 1915 till 10th March 1919. He was reported missing on the 2nd of May 1915 and was found to be a prisoner of war through until 10th March 1919.
He suffered like a lot did in the prison camps and returned very thin and weak and had to depend on a pension 11 shillings/week dropping to 8 shillings/week for him and his wife and 2 shillings/ week for his son Leonard. The pension was due to disability he was never the same again. John was my great grand father's brother and was taken prisoner same time as my grandfather, Hans Major Embleton 8th Btn.
Derick Smith

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Pte James Younger Charlton 4th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (d.26th Aug 1918)

James Younger Charlton was aged 20 when he died on 26th August 1918 at Seaham Harbour, he was serving with the 4th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. He was the son of Mary Jane Charlton of 28 Newmarch Street Jarrow and the late William Charlton. James Younger Charlton age 12 at School is recorded as living with his parents William and Mary Jane Charlton and family at 32 Newmarch Street, Jarrow on the 1911 census. He was born, lived and enlisted in Jarrow.
James is buried in Jarrow Cemetery. He is commemorated on the Palmer Cenotaph (plaque on west face) Jarrow and on the Triptych in St. Paul's Church Jarrow.
Vin Mullen

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Sgt. James Farrell 10th Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.29th August 1916)

James Farrell, Sergeant 10279, enlisted at Jarrow and served in the 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. He died age 26 on the 29th August 1916. He is remembered on the Triptych in St. Paul's Church, Jarrow and he is buried at La Neuville British Cemetery, Corbie.II.B.9.
James was born in Jarrow 1890, son of Catherine Farrell (nee Welsh) and the late Edward Farrell. The 1911 Census lists him as: James Farrell, Private age 21, single born Jarrow (St. Peter's) living at 4th Durham Light Infantry Barracks, (St. Andrews) Barrack Road, Newcastle. His family are living at 9 George Street, Jarrow (St. Peter's) Catherine Farrell widow age 44 born Jarrow (crossed out): married 27 years, children born 7, children living 6, children died 1)with Matthew M. Farrell, son age 23, Apprentice Riveter in Shipbuilding born Jarrow. Edward Farrell son age 14 Labourer in Paper Mill born Jarrow and Andrew Farrell son age 12 at School born Jarrow.
VM

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Pte. Henry Egglestone 4th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (d.9th Aug 1918)

Henry Egglestone Private 8029 served in the 4th Battalion Durham Light Infantry and died on 9th August 1918, age 39. He was born in Jarrow, son of George and Annie Egglestone of Jarrow. Henry was married to Jane Egglestone (nee Howe) of 94 Commercial Road, Byker, Newcastle. He is remembered at Newcastle (Byker and Heaton) Cemetery. XXII. U. 246. His medal card shows the award of the 1915 Star, War and Victory Medals and that he died from wounds.
In the 1911 Census the family is living at 125 Commercial Road, Byker, Newcastle with Henry Eggleston(32), a Stoneman Miner below ground (Army reservist) born Jarrow and Jane Eggleston wife age 24 born Jarrow. They have been married for 1 year and have one child Isabel Eggleston daughter 5 months born Byker.
VM

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Pte. Sydney Edwards 4th Btn. Durham Light Infantry

My grandfather, Sidney Edwards, (born in 1877) learnt tailoring while he was an orphan and this trade and his self-reliance helped him during WW1 too. He was only 5ft 2 ins tall, but joined the 9th Durham Light Infantry when he enlisted at Leyton, London on 21/7/1916 (his service number on joining was 5956 and his regimental number was 301741)
He was a Private and was posted to France on 5/1/1917. On 27/5/1918 he was gassed and reported missing. While he was lieing in a shell hole, still very badly disabled by the gas attack, a young German soldier appeared over him and was about about to bayonet him when Sidney threw up his arms and shouted "comrade, comrade". So the German took him prisoner instead. Sid was eventually transferred to a POW camp in Germany.
On arrival at the camp the new prisoners were all lined up for inspection by the Camp Commandant, sitting on his horse. When the Commandant stopped at Sid he asked him where he was from and what he did. Sid answered he was a Tailor from Leyton. While they were talking Sid noticed a small tear in the Commandants uniform and told the Commandant he could repair it invisibly so it would not be noticed.
Sid became the camp tailor and was soon repairing the all uniforms of the very smart German officers and camp guards, who gave him small favours, plus extra rations which he shared with his hut mates. So he became popular with his colleagues and captors! He also slyly told the Germans he needed pork fat in order to "make their seams waterproof" but he, of course, used this to supplement the meagre prison rations of his hut too. So his early days of self reliance and quick wittedness, learnt as an orphan, in another large authoritarian institutional setting, served him very well again inside the prison camp and helped his survival in spite of his very small size. During his time in the prison camp he secretly made a large tailor made Union Jack by hand. When the armistice was declared he raised the Union Jack over the camp, on German soil!
When he was gassed and reported missing his wife was officially informed he was 'missing believed dead!'; so on his arrival back home, after his release, he was surprised to find his name had been included on the Honour Board, at his local chapel, for local men who had given their life in the service of their country during The Great War! However he was able to present, in person, his tailor made Union Jack 'victory flag', from the camp, to the chapel in Leyton in patriotic commemoration of the victory.
After the Great War he went on to become a Master Tailor living and working in Leyton. My cousins still have his medals and old German made treadle sowing machine.
George DeHaas

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4th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
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4th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry

Want to know more about 4th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry?

Those known to have served with4th Battalion, Durham Light Infantryduring the Great War 1914-1918.

Can you help?

If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.

Announcements

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- 4th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry during the Great War -

Those known to have served with
4th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
during the Great War 1914-1918.