- Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry.
Link to Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry Museum web site
The Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry raised 17 battalions during the war of which 9 served overseas – these include regulars, territorials and service battalions. The regiment was based at Bodmin, Cornwall and was founded in 1881.
Between August-September 1914 the Regiment raised 3 Service battalions – 6.7 & 8 Bns. In October a Reserve battalion was added and in March 1915 a Pioneer battalion. 6 and 7 Bn fought on the Western Front, 8 Bn went to Salonika. Serving in 7 Bn DCLI was Private Harry Patch the last British surviving soldier of WW1 who died in 2009.
Troops of the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry who captured this trench, 11th June 1917. They are wearing German helmets or caps. Note a board with the sign “I. Stellung. IA Linie. II.Ab”. (IWM Q 2820)
- Durham Light Infantry
Links to Durham CC History of DLI web site and Durham at War web site.
The Durham Light Infantry raised 42 batallions of which 22 served overseas in Europe, Macedonia, Middle East and India. The units comprised 3 regulars, 17 territorial and 21 service and other battalions.
1/6 Bn Durham Light Infantry – 151 Brigade, 50 (Northumbrian) Division
The 1/6 Bn Durham Light Infantry was a pre-war territorial unit mobilised on 5 August 1914 and arriving in France in April 1915 when they went straight into the line during the emergency of Second Ypres German offensive. The battalion was unprepared and without the usual period of ‘trench familiarisation’. They suffered heavy casualties that in June 1915 they were merged with 1/8 Bn DLI. They resumed their identity in August after drafts of reinforcements. The battalion served on the Somme, Third Ypres, during the Kaiser Offensive and 100 Days. The battalion was disbanded on 6 November 1918.
Battle of the Menin Road Ridge. Troops of the 13th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry preparing to advance on the village of Veldhoek, 20 September 1917. (IWM Q 5970)
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