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11th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
The 11th (Service) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry was raised at Newcastle in September 1914 as part of Kitchener's Second New Army and joined 60th Brigade, 20th (Light) Division.
After training close to home with little equipment, they moved to Woking, then to Pirbright. On the 6th of January 1915 they converted into a Pioneer Battalion with the same Division. They moved to Witley in February 1915 and then to Larkhill in March 1915 for fianl training.
They proceeded to France on the 20th of July 1915, landing at Boulogne, the division concentrating in the Saint-Omer area. They moved to the Fleurbaix area for trench familiarisation.
In 1916 they were in action at the The Battle of Mount Sorrel, in which the Division, along with the Canadians, recaptured the heights. They were in action on the Somme in the Battle of Delville Wood, the Battle of Guillemont, the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, the Battle of Morval and the Battle of Le Transloy.
In 1917 they were in action during The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, the Battle of Langemarck, the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge, the Battle of Polygon Wood and the Cambrai Operations. In 1918 they fought in the Battle of St Quentin, the actions at the Somme crossings and the Battle of Rosieres engaging in heavy fighting in each battle, on the 20th of April they were withdrawn to the area south west of Amiensand received many new drafts of men during the summer.
They returned to action at the Battle of the Selle and fought in the Battle of Valenciennes, the Battle of the Sambr and the passage of the Grand Honelle.
At the Armitice the Division was in the area between Bavay and Maubeuge and later that month the units moved to the Toutencourt-Marieux area.
Demobilistion of the Division began in January 1919 and was complete by the end of May.
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
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Those known to have served with11th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry during the Great War 1914-1918. - Bolton George. Pte.
- Boydon John William. Pte.
- Cameron Alexander. Pte. (d.9th December 1918)
- Cooper Myles. Lt.
- Fitzsimmons John Vincent. 2nd Lt.
- Glenister Rueben Thomas. Private
- Hall John James. Pte.
- Law William Joseph. Pte. (d.3rd Sept 1916)
- McAllister James. Pte. (d.20th Dec 1916)
- Rose William Albert.
- Urwin William. Pte. (d.6th Oct 1916)
- Welch Thomas. Pte. (d.9th Sep 1916)
- Welch Thomas. Pte. (d.9th Sep 1916)
- Wilson John. Pte. (d.2nd Sep 1916)
All 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 11th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry from other sources.
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Pte. John "Baity" Wilson 11 Btn. C Coy. Durham Light Infantry (d.2nd Sep 1916)  John Wilson (Baity) was an ex minor from the Adventure pit, who joined the Army in 1914, 11th Batt; DLI 3-10828, was killed at the Battle of the Somme on 2nd September 1916. His name appears on the war memorial in West Rainton and also on a brass plaque in the porch of St Michael’s RC church in Houghton-le-Spring along with other fallen lads. John was a also Hawker, (selling fish from a horse and cart) but all the brothers did this for their mum at one time or another. He was also a collier and worked at the Adventure pit West Rainton. He was nicknamed Baity for the amount of sandwiches - bait - he took to work down the pit. John joined the 11th Battalion Durham Light Infantry after war was declared. In 1915 the battalion spent time in the front line in France, following which John was allowed home leave. When the time came to go back to France, he caught the correct train from Durham station but, unfortunately, the engine broke down somewhere and he had to be found a place on another train. This delay caused him to miss his ship back to France and his connections there. By the time he returned two days late, the battalion had gone back into the front line. He was brought before an officer, who told him he could be tried for desertion from the front, punishable by death or accept field punishment number one there and then without representation. He chose this punishment, which involved him doing hard labour and being tied to the wheel of a field gun for up to two hours a day – but for how many days I do not know.
John was killed on 2nd September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. I recall being told that my Great Gran was devastated at the news of his death and she always wanted to know what had happened to him since his body was never found after a trench burial. When she went shopping in Sunderland she would ask ex-DLI soldiers if they had met him and how he died. One day, by chance, someone said “yes, I was there; he was shot in the stomach, and died slowly without any medical help, and was crying for his mother when he diedâ€. Although this caused her distress at least it gave some closure. John Wilson’s name is on the monument at Thiepval, on the war memorial in West Rainton and also on a brass plaque in the porch of St Michael’s RC church in Houghton-le-Spring along with other fallen
lads.
There are some inaccuracies in his service record:
John was most certainly Not, C of E, His mum would have had a fit to hear this. She was strong Catholic, as were All of her children.
But if you put down Catholic when you were enlisted,you were meant to attend services every Sunday. If you were not strong catholic, you put down C of E and then life was easier. He was most certainly late from leave as they say, but they miss the most important bit. His train was delayed when on leave from the front, and he arrived back 3 days late, no fault of his.
But the regiment had gone back to the front line. He was given the choice of a court marshal,and firing squad, or accept field punishment No 1 tied cruciform to a field gun wheel for three days. This he accepted.
From this he developed pneumonia, was sent to hospital, for a few days, and returned to the front line.
From someone with him, we were told he was shot in the stomach, and died after 3 days without any medical help. What can you say.
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Lt. Myles Cooper 11th Btn. Durham Light Infantry Miles Cooper was my Grandad.
He was a platoon commander and was caught up in the Kaiserschlacht. He suffered from serious shell shock.
He died by suicide after the war.
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Pte. John James Hall 11th (Pioneers) Btn. Durham Light Infantry Jack Hall served with the 11th Battalion Durham Light Infantry in WW1.
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Pte. Alexander Cameron 11th Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.9th December 1918) Alexander Cameron was born in April May or June 1833 in Appleton Wiske, but there is no record of his Baptism at St. Mary's. His father John Cameron was a Schoolmaster born Scotland and his mother was Agnes Bell Cameron. In
1891 he was living in Appleton Wiske Age 7, a Scholar, in 1901 he was living 2,4,6 & 8 Sussex Street and working as a Drapers Assistant Age 17. In 1911 he was living at 6 Salisbury Place in Bishop Auckland. He enlisted in 1915 as a Private in 11th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. He was living in Wingrove, Stanley, Co Durham and married to Ethel who was born 10th April 1894.
Alexander died on the 9th of December 1918 aged 35.
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2nd Lt. John Vincent Fitzsimmons 11th Btn. Durham Light Infantry Wounded in January 1918, John Fitzsimmons was taken by ambulance to a casualty clearing station in Ballieul. He had been laying wire and came to in the CCS. The medics reckoned he was a goner but he survived. John had piece of shrapnel in his side and a wound in his forearm.
When he joined up in 1915 as a private, his father had given him a silver hip flask and silver cigarette case. They were stolen from him by the medics.
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Pte. John William Boydon 11th Btn. Durham Light Infantry John Boydon was my Grandfather. He survived the War, but was gassed on the 28th of May 1918 and taken to hospital across the border in France. He recovered and returned to the front line.
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Pte. James McAllister 11th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (d.20th Dec 1916) James McAllister served with the 11th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, he was aged 28 when died on 20th December 1916.
Born in Jarrow in 1888, he was the son of Mary McAllister (nee Whelan) and the late William McAllister of Clyde Street Jarrow and husband of Agnes McAllister (nee Christenson) of 41 Russell Street Jarrow. On the 1911 census James McAllister age 22 Clothier Wholesale is listed as living with his parents William and Mary McAllister and family at 45 Clyde Street, Jarrow .
He enlisted in Jarrow.
James is buried in Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte.
He was commemorated on the Triptych (left panel) in St. Mark's Church Jarrow (it is no longer a Church)
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Pte. Thomas Welch 11th Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.9th Sep 1916) Private Thomas Welch, the Husband of Elizabeth Welch, son of William and Mary Blaydon, was my great-grandfather. Rose Marshall, a cousin of mine, was able to access all this information and passed it on to our family. Thomas Welch died at the age of 42 and is buried in St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen France. He died on the 9th September 1916 defending a way a life we all enjoy now. He served the British Army, 11th Btn. Durham Light Infantry and is remembered with honour.
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Pte. William Joseph Law 11th Battallion (Pioneers) (d.3rd Sept 1916) My grandfather William Joseph Laws (correct name Law)was a miner at Heworth Colliery. He enlisted 31st August 1914, then aged 27 years 4 months. Entered the field of operations (France) on the 20th July 1915. In May & June 1916 he was treated for spinal fever at St. Omer. On Sunday 3rd September 1916, at the Battle of Guillemont,he was killed by a single bullet which pierced a photograph of himself which he carried in his battledress pocket. I have that photograph. He is buried in Plot 7, Row B, Guillemont Cemetery, France. The Battle of Guillemont was a subsidiary attack of the Somme offensive. With its maze of underground tunnels, dugouts and concrete emplacements it was a tough nut to crack. In the Second World War one of his sons, also named William Joseph Law joined the 9th Battalion D.L.I. (Private 4454416)and was also killed-in-action at Vimy Ridge, near Arras, on the retreat to Dunkirk. His name appears on the Dunkirk Memorial, Nord, France which commemorates those soldiers of the British Expeditionary Force who have no known grave.
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William Albert Rose 11th Btn. Durham Light Infantry I am researching my grandfathers service within the DLI during WW1 and would love to hear from anyone who may be connected in any way. Details of my grandfather are as follows: Name: William Albert Rose Born: 12 August 1895 Add: Possibly 35 Crossgate, Durham. Served in World War One 1914-1918 Durham Light Infantry. Army number and battalion: 25757 Sgn. 11th Durham L I. Rank: Pte. 11 DLI was a Pioneer battalion raised at Newcastle in September 1914.
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