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2nd Battlion, Durham Light Infantry
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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great2nd Battlion, Durham Light Infantry
The 2nd Battlion, Durham Light Infantry was at Lichfield with 18th Brigade in 6th Division, when war broke out in August 1914. They moved to Dunfermline then by the 13th August was 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.
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Dec 2011
Please note we currently have a large 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.
Those known to have served with 2nd Battlion, Durham Light Infantry during the Great War.
Select a story link or scroll down to browse those stories hosted on this site.
- Pte. J. Archeson
- Pte. R. Bamlett (d.06 Mar 1917)
- Pte. E. D. Bellairs
- Pte. Benjamin Bennett Read their Story.
- L/Corporal Alfred "Alfie" Bloomfield M.M. Read their Story.
- Capt. A. H. M. Bowers
- Cpl. F. Brown
- L/Cpl. W. G. Burns
- 2nd Lt. J. D. Cartwright
- L/Cpl. Alfred Chamberlain Read their Story.
- Pte. P. Cohen-Dixon
- Sjt. John Ernest Elgie Read their Story.
- Pte. L. Farrar
- T. N. C. Garfit
- Capt. H. V. Hare
- Captain Robert Haylett MC & Bar Read their Story.
- Pte. George Duncan Hill Read their Story.
- Thomas William Hindmarsh (d.7th Jun 1917)
- Pte. Thomas Horn (d.21st Sep 1914)
- Pte. C. Letzky
- Mjr. D. W. Mander
- 2nd Lt. R. Marshall
- L/sgt Andrew Charles "Mac" McIver Read their Story.
- L/sgt Andrew Charles "Mac" McIver Read their Story.
- L/Sgt Andrew Charles "Mac" McIver
- Lt. W. B. Mortimer
- Lt. W. B. Mortimer
- Pte. John Murphy (d.30th April 1915)
- Capt. W. Northey
- 2nd Lt. L. Pollock
- Pte. William Renton Read their Story.
- Mjr. A. K. Robb
- Pte. R. W. Sayer
- Pte. Harry St Clair
- 2nd Lt. C. M. Stanuell
- Pte. Samuel Warburton Stark Read their Story.
- Lt. E. Swetenham
- Lt. N. A. Target MC.
- Pte. James Walker (d.9th Aug 1915) Read their Story.
- Pte. A. Whitelaw
- Pte. Alexander Wood (d.28th Oct 1914) Read their Story.
If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed, please get in touch.
Pte. William Renton 2nd Btn. Durham Light Infantry
William Renton was born 18.03.1886 , and christened 08.05.1886 At the time of his birth the Renton family were living at number 4 Minorca, in the east end of Sunderland. William married Rose Powers Renton on 22 August 1910 at St Patrick’s RC Church in Sunderland. The couple ended up having four children John William, James Patrick, Dorothy & Mary.(my grandmother)who was born in July of 1916 His service number 3/8476 indicates he was serving with the 3rd Special Reserve Battalion DLI when war broke out and entered France with the first or second reinforcements to the 2nd Bn on 24/09/1914. The fact that he went out to the 2nd Battalion DLI in September 1914 would mean that he was up to date with his camps and drills as a special reservist, no Territorial’s went out as drafts to the regulars as far as we are aware. The war and victory roll has him as 3/8576 serving with 2nd, 19th, 2nd and 1/9th Battalions and was charged with desertion on 7/11/1916, but was found not guilty. He returned to duty and ended the war with the Gatehead Bn
L/Corporal Alfred "Alfie" Bloomfield M.M. 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry
I am trying to find out more about my father's army service in WW1 and wonder if anyone can help. I have visited National Records Office at Kew but have found only a record of his award of M.M. Durham Records Office holds war diaries of 2 D.L.I. and my father's name is mentioned as recipient of M.M. in the appendix to the action for which it was awarded.I still have his medals, the Military Medal, War Medal & Victory Medal plus two citations which read:
1. Your Gallant Conduct in the Field on July 14th 1918 near Dickebusch; by capturing a machine gun and team and thus preventing serious loss to your company, has been reported to me, and I have much pleasure in reading the record of your gallantry. J.G.Crawford, Brigadier General Commanding 18th Infantry Brigade.
2. Your Commanding Officer and Brigade Commander have informed me that you distinguished yourself on the 14-7-18 by conspicuous gallantry and coolness when you rushed a machine gun and captured it. I have read their report with much pleasure. T.O. Marden, Major General Commanding 6th Division Awarded M.M. 29-7-18
I also have a newspaper cutting of a social evening in Burnmoor Parish Hall at which my father was presented with an inscribed gold watch by Lord Durham and a gold chain by Lady Anne as the first employee on Lambton Estates to receive the Military Medal. All the other information I have tends to be anecdotal. Is it possible from his service number to discover when he enrolled or was conscripted and when he was demobilsed? Are there any Battalion disciplinary records and if so, where might these be found? I know from a photograph that he was a full corporal, and from what he did tell me, he was reduced to the ranks for striking a sergeant. I assume that he had been promoted back to L/Cpl before the action on 14-7-1918.
I would be grateful for any help and advice on where I can search further.
Captain Robert Haylett MC & Bar 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry
I have, for a number of years, tried to trace how my grandfather, Robert Haylett, 37931, 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry, won his Military Cross.I have an old portrait of him in the uniform of the Home Guard during WW2, it is a photo that has been “touched up” i.e. coloured. On it he shown wearing his WW1 medal ribbons and what appears to be two white and purple ribbons. I remember seeing the medals many years ago and there was a small silver rosette on the MC, signifying a second award. I also know he was commissioned in the field from Company Sergeant-Major to Lieutenant and then to Captain.
If you have any information or know where I can obtain it please contact me.
Pte. Benjamin Bennett 2nd Btn. Durham Light Infantry
I believe at sometime my grandfather, Benjamin Bennett was a prisoner of war. This is a memory of a conversation with him over 40 years ago. He served with the 2nd Btn DLI and also with the West Riding Regiment.
L/sgt Andrew Charles "Mac" McIver 2nd Btn. Durham Light Infantry
From his service records, I have discovered that my grandfather Andrew Charles McIver initially joined the special reserves at the age of 17, ( No 400700 ). After a few months he reached the age of 18 and joined the Durham Light Infantry, ( No 11555 ), and I believe, posted to Colchester for training with the 3rd Battalion. He was posted to France in May or June 1915 to join the 2nd battalion DLI, where, on the 8th August he received a bayonet wound at the "Hooge". He was sent to the 5th northern hospital in Leicester for treatment until Dec 1916 when he posted back to France. Between this posting date and Mar 1917 he was gassed and once again returned to England but only until May 1917 when he was returned to France but I am unsure if he was still part of the DLI or he had at this point was in the 798 area employment coy. Its very difficult to decipher the service records as they are very faint and damaged, I do however know that in May 1919 he was a stretcher bearer at the Windmill camp in Boulogne from an order slip that he kept that is now 90 years old. On his discharge he was serving as a L/sgt with the West Yorkshire Regiment at the Northern command discharge centre in Ripon. Grandad very rarely spoke of his time in WW1 so its only by the aid of various wesites, mostly unreadable records and the DLI museum that this part of his life can be recorded and remembered.The only story that he ever related to me was that at some time he was a "runner" between trenches. On carrying a message to his officer he was slightly wounded in the leg, when entering the command post his officer glared at him and ask " why are you not standing straight man", "I've been injured in the leg sir, sorry sir", grandad replied, with that the officer moved over to him and proceeded to cut open his trouser leg, with this grandad got very aggitated, " stay still, whats wrong with you man?" the officer growled, "Its the other leg sir", said poor grandad. He went two days with a racy split in his trouser leg.
L/sgt Andrew Charles "Mac" McIver 2nd Btn. Durham Light Infantry
From his service records, I have discovered that my grandfather Andrew Charles McIver initially joined the special reserves at the age of 17, ( No 400700 ). After a few months he reached the age of 18 and joined the Durham Light Infantry, ( No 11555 ), and I believe, posted to Colchester for training with the 3rd Battalion. He was posted to France in May or June 1915 to join the 2nd battalion DLI, where, on the 8th August he received a bayonet wound at the "Hooge". He was sent to the 5th northern hospital in Leicester for treatment until Dec 1916 when he posted back to France. Between this posting date and Mar 1917 he was gassed and once again returned to England but only until May 1917 when he was returned to France but I am unsure if he was still part of the DLI or he had at this point was in the 798 area employment coy. Its very difficult to decipher the service records as they are very faint and damaged, I do however know that in May 1919 he was a stretcher bearer at the Windmill camp in Boulogne from an order slip that he kept that is now 90 years old. On his discharge he was serving as a L/sgt with the West Yorkshire Regiment at the Northern command discharge centre in Ripon. Grandad very rarely spoke of his time in WW1 so its only by the aid of various wesites, mostly unreadable records and the DLI museum that this part of his life can be recorded and remembered.The only story that he ever related to me was that at some time he was a "runner" between trenches. On carrying a message to his officer he was slightly wounded in the leg, when entering the command post his officer glared at him and ask " why are you not standing straight man", "I've been injured in the leg sir, sorry sir", grandad replied, with that the officer moved over to him and proceeded to cut open his trouser leg, with this grandad got very aggitated, " stay still, whats wrong with you man?" the officer growled, "Its the other leg sir", said poor grandad. He went two days with a racy split in his trouser leg.
Pte. George Duncan Hill 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry
My great grandfather, George Hill was a Private of the Durham Light Infantry 2nd Battalion. He saw active service right at the beginning of the First World War but became a Prisoner of War some time in 1914. He returned to Jarrow living in either St Pauls Road or Ferry Street in Jarrow and married Catherine Doogan in 1919. He went to work in the ship yards and later on when he was 52 years old, took part in the Jarrow March. Two of his medals, the 1914 star and victory medal (1914-1918) are on display in the Durham Light Infantry Museum.
Pte. James Walker 2nd battalion Durham Light Infantry (d.9th Aug 1915)
My great grandad James Walker was killed in action on the Western Front on 9th August 1915 aged 30 years, leaving a wife and 4 children. My grandad would of been 3 the last time he saw his dad. My respect for him knows no bounds he died for his country yet is forever alive in my thoughts.
L/Cpl. Alfred Chamberlain 2nd Btn Durham Light Infantry
My father, Alfred Chamberlain was Lewis gunner. He told me of forced marches in lower Alps in Italy 1917-18, when buglers played to boost the speed and their lips were blue with cold and swollen.
Sjt. John Ernest Elgie 2nd Btn. Durham Light Infantry
John Ernest Elgie, was my Gt Grand father, Son of the late Tom Elgie, of Black Lion Hotel, Thirsk, Yorks.; husband of Lily Elgie, of 13, Alexandra Rd., Grangetown, Yorks.
Pte. Alexander Wood 2nd Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.28th Oct 1914)
Alexander Wood was my great, grand uncle and I only discovered him recently when researching my family history. I know that he was aged about 28 when he was killed in action at Ypres, France. I found his service records but they are largely illegible. Any further information that anyone may have would be greatly appreciated. Sadly, we have no pictures of Pte Alexander Wood so would be overjoyed if someone submits one to this site.Rest in peace great grand Uncle Alex. You would never have dreamed of this future technology (the internet)and how it will ensure that you won't be forgotten. Thank you to the creators of this website.
Pte. Samuel Warburton Stark 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Pte Samuel Stark 8389 was my great grandfather. He was taken prisoner at the beginning of 1914. I have been told that he may have been a regular soldier in the army. We have a photo of him in a red tunic. Unfortunately we have not been able to find which camp he was taken to.
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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.More information on:
The Steel of the DLI (2nd Bn 1914/18)
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