Page 57 - Bugle Autumn 2024

NORTH
THE GRAVENSTAFEL RIDGE COMMEMORATION
The commemoration took place at the college War Memorial in April to mark the Anniversary of the Battle of Gravenstafel Ridge 1915.
The commemoration recalled the time when the young soldiers of Bede Coy 8DLI were left exposed on the forward edge of the battle area as a result of the retreat by the French Zouaves, who had been occupying the ground to the north of the DLI position, who collapsed as a result of the attack by units of the German Army using gas for the first time.
The event commemorates the battle in which the students of Bede College fought their first and only battle as Bede Coy 8DLI. After the Regimental Hymn and wreath laying a musical presentation in Caedmon Hall ended with a reception in the Collier Room of the college.
DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY OLD COMRADES DINNER
The 8/11th Bn DLI Old Comrades Association Dinner took place at the Gilesgate Army Reserve Centre. The regiment has a distinguished lineage but The Old Comrades Assn has continued throughout. The dinner was attended by the Chairman Mr Ralph Harrison, Maj Chris Lawton MBE DLI, Vice Chairman Major Mike van der Gucht, members and invited guests.
THE DLI ASSOCIATON HARTLEPOOL BRANCH – sponsorship of a High Tunstall student
Over the Easter break a group of students from High Tunstall College of Science, Hartlepool visited the WW1 Battlefields in Belgium where the DLI had fought, and spent time at the
Tyne Cot Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, and the recently refurbished Menin Gate. Nathanial Goodall, also
a member of Cleveland Army Cadet Hartlepool RIFLES Detachment, sponsored by the Hartlepool Br lay a wreath at the ceremony.
THE 80th ANNIVERSARY OF THE NORMANDY LANDINGS
Members of the DLI Association departed Durham City in the early hours and arrived in Rouen at approximately prior to a coach party of mixed passengers visiting Rouville War Cemetery, the location of the Airborne drop zones and the final resting place of
the 2,500 who died in the first few hours of the Battle for Normandy. Lt Don Brotheridge of the Ox’s and Bucks LI was possibly the first allied serviceman to die in the opening battle. This was followed by a trip to Sword Beach and the area of Oustreham and the Commando Museum, the 3 Div Memorial and onto Hermanville, before seeing Pegasus Bridge.
June 6 was the 80th Anniversary of the Normandy Landings and after another early start everyone attended Bayeux Cemetery for the official (and very moving) CWGC Service of Remembrance. This was followed by a visit to see the Bayeux Tapestries (not to be missed and then on to visit Hill 112.
The following day we visited Lingevres, attending two Remembrance services, one of which commemorated those troops from the 6th, 8th and 9th DLI who died in the battle to take Lingevres. From there we went to Arromanches to see the remnants of the Mullbery Harbour before taking in the Normandy Memorial at Gold Beach, Ver-Sur-Mer.
It is a ‘must see’ and magnificent memorial, and the walking with giant figures covering the area between Gold Beach and the Memorial itself are very impressive. The pillars alone contain the 22,442 servicemen and women who fell on D-Day. Following this we went to Juno Beach to see the AVRE tank (“Charlie 1”) whose driver was from Silksworth in Sunderland and whose ashes are buried next to the tank after he died a few years ago (his dying request).
“We, once conquered by William, have liberated the Conqueror’s native land”.
the walking with giant figures covering the area between Gold Beach and the Memorial itself
are very impressive
RIFLES The Bugle 57