1st Battalion Durham Light Infantry

[David W]

1st D.L.I were part of 22nd Guards Brigade in April 1941.

Were they Independent prior to that date?

What were their geographical movements from the outbreak of the war until then?

[John Kilmartin]

Hi David,
I get a reference to them being in 23 Bde ,BTE as of January 1940 stationed in Egypt and then 23 Bde ,6 Div as of 28 June 1941 stationed in Syria. I have no idea what BTE stands for it is possible that the 23 should be 22. Prior to 1940 I have them in China 1937 Shanghai and 1938 Tientsin.
Cheers,
John

[David W]

Thanks John. Every little helps.

Any news on them post April 1941?

[Gerry Chester]

Any news on them post April 1941?

Hi David,

They saw service with 1st Army in Tunisia and with 8th Army in Italy. The Churchill unit in which I served, the North Irish Horse, supported 1st DLI on several occasions in both theatres.

Perhaps the most memorable was the battle for Sedjenane in Tunisia. For details see the relevant page of the NIH Battle Report:
http://www.northirishhorse.org/addenda/ ... ts/P5.html

Of particular interest – three of our chaps, who were taken prisoner when their tank was disabled, were sent to the same POW camp in Italy with DLI personnel also captured.

Cheers, Gerry

[nigelfe]

Joslen

1939 - Tientsin, China
31 Jan 40 - Arrived Egypt
31 Jan 40 - 21 Jul 40 - 23 Inf Bde Suez Canal area
23 Jul 40 - 1 Sep 40 - 22 Inf Bde
Jan 41 - Matruh Sub-Area, less det forming 10 RTR dummy tanks
28 Feb 41 - 23 May 41 - 22 Gds Bde
5 Jun 41 - 22 Jan 42 - 23 Inf Bde
27 Jan 42 - 12 May 42 - 233 Inf Bde, Malta
14 May 42 - 9 Sep 43 - 234 Inf Bde, Malta

[David W]

Thanks Nigel.

[5RANGLIAN]

BTE = Brigade Training Establishment??

Maybe it was at time of warm-up training /acclimatisation after their service in China.

Guesswork only.

[nigelfe]

British Troops Eqypt

Ie those units in Eqypt that were not assigned to a formation under command of 8 Army, etc. It included bdes in the canal, etc areas, various training establishments, I assume resting and refitting units, not sure about the base depots, logistic and medical units, etc. However, I don't the difference between units in Egypt that were BTE and those that were directly subordinate to GHQ MEF, or where units under War Office control 'sat'.

[Ron]

I have a newspaper article regarding the movements of !st battalion Durham Light Infantry prior to WW2.
I noted that there was some interest in this Battalion a while time ago, is anyone still interested ?
Please let me know and I will send a copy by email ?.
Regards, Ron

[David W]

Ron.

Thanks for the kind offer. But my personal interest is from 1st September 1939 to the end of 1942.

Best wishes, David.