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(68th Foot & 106th Foot)

 

Origins

68th of Foot raised in 1758, this became the Durham Regiment in 1782.

The "Faithful Durhams" spent their early years serving in the West Indies and it was for this period they earned their nickname. In 1808 the 68th was picked out for training to become a light infantry corps and were honoured thereafter to wear the bugle-horn badge.

The 2nd Battalion started out as the 2nd Bombay European Light Infantry, part of the private army of the East India Company, when the company ceased to trade in 1858 and the British Goverment took full control in India, its European Regiments were merged into the British Army. It then became the 106th Light Infantry and a battalion of the Durham Light Infantry in 1881.

The DLI wore dark green facings and its quick march was "The Light Barque", its slow "The Old 68th". Other quick pace music was " The Keel Row" and "Moneymusk" part of the "Cavalry Trot Past".

The Durham's Colours are laid up in Durham Cathedral and the parish church of Barnard Castle, there is also a memorial garden in the Cathedral Close. The DLI Museum is housed in the County Offices building and has large amounts of information plus an archive.

In 1968 the DLI became the 4th Battalion The Light Infantry but being the least senoir regiment it was a victim of defence cuts within a short period.

Colonel-In-Chief

Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra of Kent

Badge

Within a Bugle Horn stringed the letters "D.L.I."

Facing Colour: Dark Green - Regimental Colours: Red and Dark Green

Nicknames

The Faithful Durhams: from service against the Caribs at St Vincent in the West Indies in 1772. Though dropped in 1780, the title persisted as a nickname.

Customs

Inkerman Day (5th November) was celebrated annually. The 68th was said to be the only regiment to have fought in red since it alone supposedly discarded its greatcoats in this winter battle. The 2nd Battalion celebrated Hooge Day (9th August) annually, in memory of a 1915 action outside Ypres.

 

 

DLI Tribute Page by Keith Petvin Scudamore

The Durham Light Infantry Association

Durham Light Infantry Charitable Fund
Contact: Rifles Office (Durham), Elvet Waterside, Durham City, Co Durham DH1 3BW, Tel: 0191 3865496

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Tuesday, 20 September, 2016 15:16

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