The D.L.I. at War

The D.L.I. at War
Author: David Rissik
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited
Total Pages: 393
Release: 2012-09-04
Genre: History
ISBN: 1781515352

The Durham Light Infantry is not only one of the British army's proudest and most distinguised units - it is also one of the best recorded. This book is one among several published by the Naval and Military Press chronicling the DLI's many battle exploits, and it tells the regiment's story during the Second World War. The history comes complete with a foreword by Field-Marshal Montgomery who often found himself commanding the DLI in many fields, from Alamein to Germany via Sicily, Normandy and Holland. Monty writes: ‘It is a magnificent Regiment, steady as a rock in battle and absolutely reliable on all occasions'. This book tells the full and thrilling story of the regiment's many battle honours, which include Arras and Dunkirk in France in 1940; the western desert, Tobruk and Malta; Tunis, Sicily, Italy and Greece; the Arakan and Kohima in Burma; Normandy, the Low Countries and Germany in 1944-45. The book has 20 maps, 32 photographs and an index.

D.l.i. at War: the History of the Durham Light Infantry 1939-1945

D.l.i. at War: the History of the Durham Light Infantry 1939-1945
Author: David Rissik
Publisher:
Total Pages: 404
Release: 2004-07-01
Genre: History
ISBN: 9781845741440

The Durham Light Infantry is not only one of the British army s proudest and most distinguised units - it is also one of the best recorded. This book is one among several published by the Naval and Military Press chronicling the DLI s many battle exploits, and it tells the regiment s story during the Second World War. The historycomes complete with a foreword by Field-Marshal Montgomery who often found himself commanding the DLI in many fields, from Alamein to Germany via Sicily, Normandy and Holland. Monty writes: It is a magnificent Regiment, steady as a rock in battle and absolutely reliable on all occasions . This book tells the full and thrilling story of the regiment s many battle honours, which include Arras and Dunkirk in France in 1940; the western desert, Tobruk and Malta; Tunis, Sicily, Italy and Greece; the Arakan and Kohima in Burma; Normandy, the Low Countries and Germany in 1944-45. The book has 20 maps, 32 photographs and an index.

8th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry 1939–1945

8th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry 1939–1945
Author: Major P.J. Lewis
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited
Total Pages: 345
Release: 2011-12-23
Genre: History
ISBN: 1781515379

Few regiments in the British army played such a prominent and widespread part in the Second World War as the Durham Light Infantry. This is the full official account of the 8th battalion of the regiment's role in the conflict in which the DLI in general, and the 8th battalion in particular, more than upheld its long and proud traditions : in the words of the foreword to this book by Lt.Gen. Sir Brian Horrocks, who had the 8th DLI under his command both in North Africa and in Europe : ‘'Every man that served in this great battalion can say to himself with pride, “I did more than my share to win the war”’. The 8th DLI were part of the BEF sent to France in 1939. As such they withstood the onslaught of the German Blitzkrieg in May 1940, taking part in the British counter-strike at Arras and the retreat to Dunkirk. They were soon in action again, this time at Gazala in North Africa where they were again attacked by German forces under Rommel. The 8th DLI formed part of the victorious offensive at El Alamein and fought through to the dour slogging match to break the Mareth Line. Subsequently, they took part in the invasion of Sicily; D-Day, and the battles of Gheel and Nijmegen in Holland. This book, as Horrocks says is a ‘First class battalion history’ written by two former battalion officers. It comes complete with appendices listing Rolls of honour and awards, along with some 20 photographs and fourteen maps.

The Fighting Pioneers

The Fighting Pioneers
Author: Clive Dunn
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
Total Pages: 397
Release: 2015-09-30
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 1473871735

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.

Faithful

Faithful
Author: Stephen George Peregrine Ward
Publisher:
Total Pages: 606
Release: 1963
Genre: Army, British
ISBN:

With Bayonets Fixed

With Bayonets Fixed
Author: John Sheen
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
Total Pages: 469
Release: 2013-06-19
Genre: History
ISBN: 178383093X

In August and September 1914 the Regimental Depot of the Durham Light Infantry at Fenham Barracks in Newcastle was overwhelmed by the number of men enlisting. Accommodation was tight so the men were formed into batches and sent off to training grounds in the south of England. Over 2,000 men were sent to Bulllswater near Woking in Surrey where they became the 12th and 13th Battalions of the DLI serving in 68 Brigade of the 23rd Division, commanded by Lieutenant General Sir James Babington KCB KCMG. The Division never failed to take an objective between 1915 and 1918.After initial training around Aldershot and Ashford, in May they embarked for France on 25 August 1915. In November Private Thomas Kenny, of the 13th DLI, a miner from Wingate, County Durham, won the Victoria Cross rescuing his wounded officer. In the summer of 1916 they joined the fighting on the Somme and took part in the capture of Contalmaison on 10 July. In October the two battalions took part in the capture of Le Sars before being sent north to the Ypres Salient. In Flanders they took part in the Battle of Messines and the 3rd Battle of Ypres. In November 1917 the 23rd Division was ordered to the Italian Front. The 12th and 13th Battalions were initially deployed on the Montello before moving into the mountainous region of the Asiago Plateau. They were attacked by the Austrians on 15 June 1918, however, the only enemy soldiers that entered the Durhams' trenches did so as prisoners, brought in by men of the two battalions. The 13th DLI was ordered back to France in September 1918 where it took part in the advance to victory; the battalion suffered many casualties in the last six weeks of the war. The 12th DLI remained in Italy and took part in the crossing of the River Piave in October 1918 and the Battle of Vittorio Veneto that led to the end of the war in Italy.The book uses unpublished memoirs and diaries along with letters from officers and men of both battalions. Using the soldiers personal documents this book reveals many of the tragic stories that led to unnecessary loss of life. Lists of gallantry awards and nominal rolls of officers of both battalions are included.

Steel of the DLI

Steel of the DLI
Author: John Sheen
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
Total Pages: 458
Release: 2010-03-10
Genre: History
ISBN: 1783409908

The 2nd Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry was one of only two battalions of the regiment that did not have its history published in some form after the Great War, the other was the 1/7th (Territorial) Battalion. As the regular Home Service battalion of the regiment it was brought up to strength with Regular Reservists and men from the Special Reserve and went out to France in September 1914, where it fought at the Battle of the Aisne, before moving north to Flanders. The battalion was in action immediately that war was declared on 4th August 1914, when a detachment based at South Shields boarded a German Steamer on the River Tyne and took the crew prisoner and marched them through the town to the Police Station.The book includes material from unpublished letters and diaries of both officers and men and has lots of photographs from the Regimental Archives, a number of which show named officers and men in the trenches around Armentierres in 1915. Also included is a roll of all the officers that served with the battalion with date of joining and leaving the battalion. For the other ranks the original 1914 Star men are included in a roll that includes reinforcements that joined up to 1 November 1914. This roll has been crossed referenced against the South Africa Rolls to show those who had seen service in that campaign also. There is also a list of those that received gallantry awards. This must be one of the first histories of a regular battalion that fought in France during the Great War, published since the 1920s.

The 16th Durham Light Infantry in Italy, 1943–1945

The 16th Durham Light Infantry in Italy, 1943–1945
Author: Peter Hart
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Total Pages: 441
Release: 2010-10-21
Genre: History
ISBN: 1473811376

The Second World War is vanishing into the pages of history. The veterans were once all around us, but their numbers are fast diminishing. While still in their prime many recorded their memories with Peter Hart for the Imperial War Museum. As these old soldiers now fade away their voices from the front are still strong with a rare power to bring the horrors of war back to vivid life. The 16th Durham Light Infantry were supposed to be just an 'ordinary' battalion. But their experiences as they fought their way up through Italy show that there is no such thing as 'ordinary'. They struggled to break out from Salerno, then across the countless rivers and mountain ranges that seemed to spring up to bar their way to victory. They learnt their military skills the hard way facing determined German opposition every step of the way. These were no 'D-Day Dodgers' but heroes in their own right. But there was another battle being fought as they struggled to maintain their morale day by day, as their friends died and their seemed to be no end in sight. This is their story.Peter Hart was born in 1955. After attending Liverpool University he has worked as the Oral Historian at the Imperial War Museum since 1981, He is responsible for interviewing veterans of all conflicts from the Great War to the present day. His previous books include 1918: A Very British Victory, The Somme, 1916, Aces Falling: War Above the Trenches, 1918 and Jutland, 1916. His Voices from the Front series with Pen & Sword includes, The 16th Durham Light Infantry, The 2nd Norfolk regiment and the South Notts Hussars. He is married with two children and lives in North London