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The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
extracted from "The Territorial
Battalions, A Pictorial History 1859-1985" by Ray
Westlake
further details are given on these battalions in appropriate
sections of the site
4th Battalion
In 1860 the several Cornwall rifle corps located within
the western part of the county were grouped together
as the 1st Admin Battalion of Cornwall Rifle Volunteers.
The battalion became the 1st Cornwall Rifle Volunteer
Corps in 1880 and in 1885 was renamed the 1st Volunteer
Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. The battalion
contributed a number of men to the volunteer service
companies that went out to South Africa during the Boer
War.
As part of the Wessex Division the 1/4th DCLI left
Southampton for India in October 1914. It later served
for a year in Aden, and from February 1917 was part
of the Suez defence force. In June 1917 the battalion
transferred to the 75th Division, with which it took
part in the invasion of Palestine. The 2/4th Battalion
also served in India while the 3/4th absorbed the 2/5th
and served as the 4th (Reserve) Battalion.
The 4th was amalgamated with the 5th Battalion to form
the 4/5th DCLI in 1921. In 1939, however, the strength
of the battalion was doubled and subsequently divided
as 4th and 5th. The 4th Battalion remained in the UK
throughout the Second World War.
In 1947 it was amalgamated with the 5th to form once
again, the 4th/5th Battalion. The regular battalion
of the DCLI was amalgamated with the Somerset Light
Infantry in 1959 to form the Somerset and Cornwall Light
Infantry. A year later the 4/5th was permitted to adopt
the former county title. The Duke of Cornwall's Light
Infantry are now represented in the 6th Light Infantry
Volunteers.
5th Battalion
The 5th Battalion was formed from the 2nd Admin Battalion
of Cornwall Rifle Volunteers. This battalion was created
in 1860 from the rifle companies in the eastern part
of Cornwall. In 1880 it became the 2nd Cornwall Rifle
Volunteer Corps of nine companies and in 1885 the 2nd
Volunteer Battalion, DCLI.
Several members from the battalion saw active service
in South Africa. During the First World War a number
of men, those that were willing to serve overseas, transferred
to the 1/4th Battalion. Those that remained were later
trained as pioneers and eventu
6th & 7th Battalions
The 6th Battalion, later to become the
1st Battalion
It became obvious in 1914 that the regimental
depots could not cope with a large influx of recruits
in a major war so holding battalions were set up all
over Britain. These battalions were not exclusive
to one single regiment but were made up of recruits
from various regiments, one such holding battalion
was the 12th that DCLI soldiers were initially sent
for training on the Isle of Wight.
In 1940, after Dunkirk the 6th Battalion
DCLI was no longer responsible for training but Anti-invasion
operations, HQ was at St Austell, in July 1941 it
moved to Hinton St George in Somerset. It later moved
again to Walker Lines at Bodmin and again in the October
to Harlyn Bay near Padstow..
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