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1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry fought in the Western Desert, the Mediterranean and Italy being involved in the battles of El Alamein, Mareth, Mersa Matruh, Halfaya, Syria, Tobruk, Malta, Cos, Cesena, Pergola Ridge, Sillaro Crossing, Sicily, Primosole Bridge, Rauray, Salerno and Camino.
7th Apr 1941 Orders
8th Apr 1941 Defence Work
10th Apr 1941 Reliefs
24th Apr 1941 Patrols
25th Apr 1941 Patrols
26th Apr 1941 Orders
27th Apr 1941 Withdrawal
3rd of November 1945 ADM Instruction No 2
If you can provide any additional information, especially on actions and locations at specific dates, please add it here.
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Those known to have served with 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Robert Thomas. Pte.
- Ashworth Wilfred. L/Cpl. (d.6th November 1941)
- Bates William. Pte.
- Clarke Samuel. Cpl. (d.27th Sep 1943)
- Diment George. Pte (d.15th Oct 1944)
- Diston James Robert. L/Cpl.
- Edwards Ralph. Pte.
- Govan MM. Thomas. Cpl.
- Jones Harrison Oughton. Cpl.
- Langley John. Pte. (d.15th May 1941)
- Lax John.
- Martin Albert.
- Murphy Norman. Pte.
- Snowball Thomas. Pte.
- Thompson John Usher. Sgt. (d.23rd Dec 1941)
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please
Add a Name to this List
Records of 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry from other sources.
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Want to know more about 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry? There are:1329 items tagged 1st 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 Second World War. |
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L/Cpl. James Robert Diston 1st Btn. Durham Light infantry James Diston was taken prisoner on 7 October 1943 during the battle for the Greek island of Kos.
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Pte. Thomas Snowball 1st Btn Durham Light Infantry Thomas Snowball was with his unit covering the retreat through Burma, he was lost in the jungle and found by Nuns at a Convent. He was with an officer called Vere Wheeler.
He weighed 6 stone when found, but was nursed back to health and re-joined the army in Darjeeling.
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Pte. William Bates 1st Btn. Durham Light Infantry William Bates served with 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry.
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Cpl. Samuel Clarke 1st Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.27th Sep 1943) Sammy Clarke was in the 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry and had served in Africa. He was on his way home on leave when he was killed on 27th of September 1943.
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Pte. Ralph Edwards 1st Btn. Durham Light Infantry Ralphy Edwards served with the 1st Durham Light Infantry.
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John Lax 1st Btn. Durham Light Infantry John Lax joined the 1st battalion Durham Light Infantry in 1933 aged 18. He served in China until 1939.
Jack was shipped to North Africa to fight in the desert. In 1942 he transferred to the 2nd battalion to join his younger brother Charles Lax. He fought in Burma against the Japanese and also at the Battle of Kohima. He was demobbed after the war and died in Hartlepool in 1969 aged 53.
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Pte. Norman "Spud" Murphy 1st Btn. Durham Light Infantry    Norman Murphy came from a large family who originated from Ireland, however, some settled in both Maryport and Scotland. The men of the family were mainly stone miners or as Norman was a pitman. Norman lived in Tantobie near Stanley, Co Durham at the time of enlisting.
He lied on his application form to join up stating his year of birth to be 1917. He was born at the historic site of Causey Arch as you cross the arch towards the town of Tanfield cottages were located on the banks to the lied this is where his ashes lay.
Norman enlisted on a 7yr stint on the 25th of March 1936 his military record shows he was a gutsy man and his record shows him standing at 5'5" weighing 125lb. He was shown as fit for active service 23rd of May 1936 at Fenham Barracks. He was training in Shanghai from 16th of October 1937 to 6th of January 1940. He went to Egypt on the 7th of January 1940 and was taken as a prisoner of war on the 16th of May 1941. He was repatriated on the 11th of April 1942 and resumed army service on the 2nd of July 1942.
He was awarded the standard war medals and the African Star on 14th of December 1948. Norman had gun shot wounds to hand arm and leg. He was a miner when he joined up. He never drove a car but the murphy mode of transport was a motor bike and side car. He met my mother Marion Yard at Tantobie dance hall. Norman died in 1992 of having coughed up most of his lung with coal dust, he mined at Marlyhill collery and had worked at Consett steel works.
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Pte. John Langley 1st Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.15th May 1941) John Langley served with the 1st Durham Light Infantry.
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Albert Martin 1st Btn. Durham Light Infantry My father, Albert Martin, was a professional soldier serving with the 1st Btn Durham Light Infantry. He was taken prisoner on the Greek island of Kos, in mid 1943 and sent to Stalag 4B. On the morning that the POWs discovered hat their German captors had fled, he took the swastika flag flying from the flag pole as a souvenir. Any other ex-British POWs out there?
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Pte. Robert Thomas 1st Battalion Durham Light Infantry I am researching my father Tom Scollay's history for a school project that my grandson has been asked to carry out at his school in Singapore. I am also carrying out research into my family tree for him.
I have photos of him in the 4th General hospital in Ranikhet India (I think it was 1944). I also have a certificate on him leaving the Regiment dated 24th November 1936 (Blackdown) which doesn't seem correct given that he was in India in 1944. I have searched as many records as I can online but I can't find anything at all anywhere. I am looking for a photograph of him where he is wearing sergeant's stripes. I also have his Service and playbook which has the following details:- Birth 17:11:1910 (should be 1911), Trade: Electrical Engineer, Enlisted 25:11:1929.
Distinctive marks and minor defects:- Oversea Service 2/178 A&S Group No 18.
He was listed as living at 15 Victoria Road Grangetown, East Yorkshire, Middlesbrough.
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