1st Durham Rifle Volunteers
1st Durham Rifle Volunteers 5th Bn Durham Light Infantry 54th (DLI) Searchlight Regiment, RA 55th (DLI) Searchlight Regiment, RA 113th Light AA Regiment, RA 589 (DLI) S/L Regiment, RA 590 (DLI) LAA Regiment, RA | |
---|---|
Active | 1860–1967 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | Territorial Army |
Role | Infantry Air Defence |
Part of | 50th (Northumbrian) Division Anti-Aircraft Command 21st Army Group |
Garrison/HQ | Stockton-on-Tees |
Nickname(s) | Stockton Volunteers |
Engagements | Second Boer War First World War: |
The 1st Durham Rifle Volunteers, later the 5th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry (5th DLI), was a part-time unit of the
Volunteer Force
An invasion scare in 1859 led to the emergence of the
- 1st (Stockton) Durham RVC
- 15th (Darlington) Durham RVC, formed 6 October 1860
- 16th (Castle Eden) Durham RVC, formed 14 December 1860
- 19th (Hartlepool) Durham RVC, formed 26 January 1861, disbanded November 1872
- 7th (Teesdale Volunteers) Yorkshire North Riding RVC, formed at Startforth 29 February 1860, joined the 4th Admin Battalion of Durham RVCs in December 1863, but converted in January 1864 into 21st Durham RVC in 2nd Admin Battalion.[8]
- 21st (Middlesbrough) Yorkshire North Riding RVC, formed as two companies on 13 October 1877 and joined the 4th Admin Battalion of Durham RVCs.[9]
The Stockton Volunteers had a band that competed in regional brass band competitions from 1867 to 1898.[10]
Under the scheme of 'localisation' introduced by the Cardwell Reforms in 1873, the Durham RVCs, together with the Durham Militia and the two Regular battalions (68th Light Infantry and 106th Light Infantry) that later formed the Durham Light Infantry (DLI), constituted Brigade No 3, based at Sunderland in the Durham sub-district of Northern District. While the sub-districts were referred to as 'brigades', they were purely administrative organisations and the Volunteers were excluded from the 'mobilisation' part of the Cardwell system, though they carried out joint manoeuvres.[7][11] The Teesside industrialist Samuel Sadler was appointed Commanding Officer (CO) of the battalion with the rank of lieutenant-colonel on 16 August 1876.[7]
When the Rifle Volunteer units were consolidated on 16 March 1880, the 4th Durham Admin Battalion became the new 1st Durham (1st Durham and North Riding of York) RVC, with the following composition:[4][6][7]
- A, B, & C Companies (former 1st Durham RVC)
- D & E Companies (former 15th Durham RVC)
- F Company (former 16th Durham RVC)
- G & H Companies (former 21st North Riding RVC)
After the
In 1900 the battalion raised further companies:[4]
- I Company at Stockton
- K Company at Darlington
- L Company at Middlesbrough
- M (Cyclist) Company at Stockton
The 1st VB contributed detachments to three successive service companies who served alongside the Regular DLI in the Second Boer War, which gained the battalion its first battle honour: South Africa 1900–1902.[4][7][14][15]
Territorial Force
When the Volunteers were subsumed into the new Territorial Force (TF) under the Haldane Reforms of 1908,[16][17] the 1st VB became 5th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry.[4][6][7] Unlike the rest of the DLI battalions of the TF, which continued as the Durham Light Infantry Brigade, the 5th Bn in south Durham joined the York and Durham Brigade in the TF's Northumbrian Division.[18][19][20][21][22]
First World War
Mobilisation
In late July 1914 the units of the Northumbrian Division were at their annual training camp in North Wales. On 3 August they were ordered to return to their respective headquarters, where at 17.00 next day they received orders to mobilise. The 5th DLI mobilised at the Drill Hall, Stockton, under the command of Lt-Col G.O. Spence and went to its war station at the Hartlepools on the coast, where there were numerous alerts. On 5 September the York & Durham Bde went into camp at Ravensworth, near Gateshead, and in October the Northumbrian Division became part of Central Force in Home Defence, manning the Tyne Defences.[18][19][20][22][23][24]
On the outbreak of war, TF units were invited to volunteer for Overseas Service. The large majority of the Northumbrian Division accepted. On 15 August the War Office (WO) issued instructions to separate those men who had signed up for Home Service only, and form these into reserve units. On 31 August, the formation of a reserve or 2nd Line unit was authorised for each 1st Line unit where 60 per cent or more of the men had volunteered for Overseas Service. The titles of these 2nd Line units would be the same as the original, but distinguished by a '2/' prefix. In this way duplicate battalions, brigades and divisions were created, mirroring those TF formations being sent overseas.[25][26][27][28]
1/5th Battalion
Ypres
The Northumbrian Division trained hard while manning the Tyne Defences, and was ordered to proceed to France to join the
Apart from providing working parties, the infantry of the Northumbrian Division was barely engaged in the
Over the following month the division was concentrated and took over its own section of the line south of Sanctuary Wood, 1/5th DLI relieving the
In December 1915 the division returned to the Ypres Salient, in the
Somme
50th (Northumbrian) Division was not involved in the Somme Offensive until its third phase (the Battle of Flers–Courcelette). The division took over trenches west of High Wood facing the German Hook Trench on 10 September, in preparation for the attack on 15 September. 1/5th DLI was the reserve battalion for 150th Bde's attack, which was delivered on 15 September, behind a creeping barrage for the first time and quickly took Hook Trench. Despite flanking fire the brigade continued onto its second and third objectives. The attack was continued the following morning after a short bombardment, this time with 1/5th DLI in the lead and its CO, Lt-Col Spence, controlling the brigade attack. The battalion formed up in Martin Trench and advanced the 400 yards (370 m) towards the objectives, Prue Trench, Starfish Line and The Crescent, supported by bombing parties from the 1/4th and 1/5th Green Howards. The leading companies came under enfilade fire and took heavy casualties, losing direction, and only captured the western half of Prue Trench. The bombers tried to work along the Starfish Line but were driven back, and the small gains were consolidated, while Martin Trench in their rear was heavily bombarded. Further attempts were made that evening and the following afternoon and eventually the reinforced bombers cleared Prue and Starfish but could not take the Crescent, though German counter-attacks were driven back with Lewis gun fire. When the brigade was relieved on 19 September only four officers and 88 other ranks of 1/5th DLI answered roll-call, though many others were only slightly wounded or mixed up with other units and returned over the following days.[33]
The division made further piecemeal advances during the Battle of Morval (25–28 September), with 1/5th DLI pushing out posts from Prue Trench down Crescent Alley on the morning of 25 September. It then supported an attack by the rest of the brigade from this outpost line on the night of 26/27 September. The night attack failed, but at noon the following day a battle patrol from 1/5th DLI gained the objective. That evening the battalion extended the line towards Flers, though D Company found that reports of the village being clear of the enemy were incorrect. 150th Brigade was relieved on 28 September and was in reserve when 50th Division made another setpiece attack at the Battle of the Transloy Ridges on 1 October.[34]
The division's infantry returned to the line on 24 October for an attack on the Butte de Warlencourt, with 1/5th DLI in the valley north of Bazentin-le-Grand. The weather and mud were so bad that the attack was several times delayed, and 150th Bde was exhausted before the date was finally settled for 5 November, and was replaced. The attack was made by 151st (Durham Light Infantry) Brigade and was a muddy failure, with 1/5th DLI having to relieve the exhausted attackers afterwards. Further lodgements made in the enemy positions by 149th (Northumberland) Brigade on 14 November were also driven back.[35]
Arras
After a winter spent trench-holding, 50th Division was moved to the
During the summer of 1917 the division held a section of the line, with frequent raids and exchanges of artillery fire. On the night of 25/26 June 1/5th DLI and 1/5th Green Howards led a brigade-scale raid. The battalion had A and B Companies engaged, and captured all but a small section of their objective, establishing a new strongpoint in the captured trench near 'Rotten Row'. The battalion only suffered about 10 casualties in this action. On 27 July the battalion attempted a small raid of two officers and 20 other ranks. After advancing without seeing any enemy, they were attacked with a show of stick-grenades and had to withdraw, carrying their wounded.[37]
Passchendaele
In October 50th Division returned to the Ypres Salient to take part in the last and worst phase of the Third Ypres Offensive, the Second Battle of Passchendaele. 149th Brigade attacked at 05.40 on 26 October, but from the first the infantry struggling through the mud could not keep up with the creeping barrage, which had no effect on the concrete pillboxes. The suffered appalling casualties and gained almost no ground. 150th Brigade relieved them that night, with 1/5th DLI at Pascal Farm in support. Some advances were made on 30 and 31 October, and the division was finally withdrawn for rest and training on 9 November.[38]
By February 1918 the BEF was suffering a severe manpower crisis and infantry brigades were reorganised on a three-battalion establishment. 1/5th DLI moved to 151st (DLI) Bde on 12 February, replacing two battalions that had been transferred.[18][19][20][39]
Rosières
50th (Northumbrian) Division was 20–25 miles behind the lines in GHQ Reserve when the
Most of 50th Division played little part in the Battle of the Somme Crossings on 24 March, but 1/5th DLI was still detached with 66th Division at Foucaucourt. As the Germans began crossing the canal, companies of the battalion were sent forward ready to counter-attack. At 18.00 D Company joined 2/8th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers attacking the bridgehead at Péronne; the DLI made two attempts, but the task was too great for a single company. At dawn on 25 March A and B Companies were in bivouacs near Villers-Carbonnel, D Company was in the front line with 66th Division, and C Company was in support about 500 yards (460 m) south of La Maisonette. A violent enemy bombardment began at 09.00 and strong German forces crossed the canal. 1/5th DLI was ordered to counter-attack and A and B Companies set off, under attack by German aircraft, and occupied the high ground overlooking the valley leading from the Somme to Barleux. They were joined by the other companies and by part of 1/7th DLI (50th Division's pioneer battalion), which had been driven back from the canal. They were positioned in a well-wired old trench, with 1/7th DLI on the left, but with their right flank in the air. From this commanding position the battalion caused heavy casualties to the advancing Germans. Just before dusk the Germans massed for an attack, but the DLI were able to signal back to Brigade HQ, and a battery of field guns dispersed the attack with rapid fire. By now the DLI were isolated: orders to withdraw during the night failed to reach the battalion, but fortuitously they made contact with a small party of Northumberland Fusiliers who had been sent to cover their withdrawal, and eventually the 1/5th and /17th DLI got away to be attached to 149th Bde.[44][45]
On the morning of 26 March the Germans renewed their attacks, bringing on the Battle of Rosières. 66th Division was forced back, uncovering the flank of 149th Bde, which had to withdraw to the Rosières–Vauvillers line. The following morning, A and D Companies of 1/5th DLI were covering Rosières station, while the rest of the battalion (about 5 officers and 120–140 men) were at Vauvillers in support of 149th Bde. The enemy attacked the new line about 08.00, and at 11.00 A and D Companies were ordered to withdraw to the railway bridge between Rosières and Guillaucourt, covered by a counter-attack by C Company when the battalion on the left withdrew too soon. The withdrawal and a subsequent counter-attack along with 1/7th DLI were carried out under attack by 8–9 enemy aircraft, shellfire and machine gun fire: 'After a while it became very exciting as we could see the enemy halt and turn back through the trees near Vauvillers. Our men gave a sort of grunt and advanced ten times as quickly as before'. By the end of 27 March the battalion was back at Rosières station, tired and short of ammunition, where it came under the orders of 8th Division.[46][47][48]
On the morning of 28 March 149th Bde (including 1/5th DLI) moved back to the Caix–Guillaucourt line, where it received yet another attack. By the end of the day the exhausted brigade had retired across the River Luce to Moreuil on the Avre. On 29 March the brigade came under the command of 20th (Light) Division and was ordered to advance in support of an attack by that formation, which failed. The consequent retirement of 20th Division uncovered the flank of 149th Bde, which launched a second counter-attack, 1/5th DLI attacking a wood immediately north of Villers. This gave the 20th time to reform. On 31 March the Germans attacked yet again, pushing 20th and 50th Divisions back, apart from 1/5th DLI and 6th Northumberland Fusiliers, who held their ground covering Hangard, only to be attacked by the British 18th (Eastern) Division under the impression that the Germans held Hangard. The remnants of 50th Division were relieved on 1 April.[49][50]
Estaires
Out of the line the 50th Division reorganised, absorbing large numbers of inexperienced reinforcements, and 1/5th DLI returned to 151st Bde. On the night of 9/10 April it was due to relieve the 2nd Portuguese Division in front of Estaires, but the second phase of the German Spring Offensive (Operation Georgette) was launched on 9 April (the Battle of Estaires) and broke through the Portuguese positions. 50th Division was 'stood to' as soon as the German bombardment began, and the regimental band played as the 1/5th DLI marched off to its assigned battle position covering the bridgeheads across the River Lys at La Gorgue, Nouveau Monde (Pont Levis) and Pont de la Meuse. Estaires was already under shellfire and becoming impassable for transport, and the battalion suffered casualties before it had cleared the town. As the Portuguese retreated, the positions taken up by the battalion became the Allied front line. The first German column reached the Lys at Nouveau Monde some time before 15.00 and 1/5th DLI was ordered to hold Pont Levis at all costs and to counter-attack with a reserve company towards Laventie to improve the position. By 18.00 the situation was becoming serious, and 1/5th DLI had used up all its reserves. The Pont Levis bridgehead was lost but recaptured in a counter-attack by the men of 151st Brigade Trench Mortar Battery. German troops supported by artillery, mortars and machine guns, pushed the garrison back again and looked as if they would hold the bridge, but it was recaptured by a rushed led by Privates T. Tweddle and E. Dean. By 19.00 enemy field guns had been brought up to smash the bridgeheads and machine guns in Nouveau Monde had enfiladed the garrisons, and it was decided to blow up the bridges. 1/5th DLI was ordered back across the river; Pont de la Mueuse and the bridge at La Gorgue were destroyed, but two attempts to blow up Pont Levis failed to destroy it completely. 1/5th Durham Light Infantry were relieved by 149th Bde.[51][52][53]
The battalion endured heavy fighting around Estaires the next day, and were withdrawn at 20.00 to positions south-east of Vierhouck, where it took up positions in some old trenches running from the Estaires–Neuf-Berquin road to a bend in the Lys Canal. It was attacked at daybreak on 11 April, with enemy mortars and field guns brought up to close range, and snipers operating behind iron shields. The German infantry advanced from Estaires and La Gorgue and penetrated a 1,000 yards (910 m) gap between the 1/5th and 1/6th DLI, threatening to envelop C Company of 1/5th. The battalion fell back slowly to a line east of Neuf-Berquin that had been prepared by the Royal Engineers with an excellent field of fire. Here they caused heavy casualties until driven out by close-range artillery and concentrated machine gun fire, losing their CO (Lt-Col G.O. Spence) wounded. 'The line was now composed of small groups of men utterly worn out with continuous fighting and isolated from one another'. But the German troops discovered liquor stores at Estaires and Neuf-Berquin and their officers lost control of them. 1/5th Durham Light Infantry was able to withdraw unmolested and dig in on a new line. The Germans renewed the attack on 12 April (the Battle of Hazebrouck), but by now 50th Division was being pulled out. 4th Guards Brigade relieved 1/5th DLI, whose survivors went to reinforce the line opposite Merville. Fortunately, the enemy pressure was not great, and 151st Bde was fully relieved at 03.00 on 13 April.[54][55]
Aisne
Once again the thinned ranks of the battalions were brought up to strength with inexperienced reinforcements, and in late May 1918 50th Division was moved to a 'quiet' sector on the Chemin des Dames to relieve French troops. However, intelligence warned of impending attack, and on 26 May 1/5th DLI was moved up from reserve. The following day the next phase of the German Offensive opened on the Chemin des Dames ridge (the Third Battle of the Aisne). The front line was flattened by German artillery, and the attack was led by tanks. C and D Companies of 1/5th DLI were sent to garrison 'International Line', followed by A and B Companies. C and D Companies held up the advance for a while, but found the enemy behind them in Pontavert and they withdrew to a line near the dressing station in that village. A and B Companies were simply surrounded and captured. 149th and 151st Brigades combined to hold Hill 233 on 28 May, and by 29 May the whole division had been reduced to the strength of a single composite battalion, which fought on for several days as the German offensive was eventually stopped.[56][57][58]
On 15 July 1918, the battalions of the DLI Bde were reduced to training
2/5th Battalion
The 2/5th DLI was formed on 2 January 1915 at Stockton and in May was at
The 63rd Division never reached its intended establishment, and the continuous demand from the Western Front for reinforcements meant that it could never take the field. In July 1916 189th Bde furnished another large draft for 1st Line units overseas, after which the division was broken up. The brigades remained in existence as draft-finding units, the 189th moving to
On 1 March 1917 the battalion joined 228th Bde. Although an independent formation, 228 Bde was always associated with 28th Division.[19][23][25][61][62][63] The brigade was formed of garrison battalions, which were not normally expected to serve in the front line due to the men's age or low medical category.[64] One staff officer wrote: 'Physically the brigade was in a terrible state. They were splendid crocks ... Some were almost blind, some almost deaf, and [one battalion] ... had more than sixty men over sixty years old'.[65] Because of its slow rate of marching, the 228th became known as the 'Too Too Late Brigade'.[66]
On 30 September 1918, during the final Allied offensive on the
3/5th Battalion
The 3/5th Bn was formed at Stockton on 25 March 1915 and then moved to Catterick, where its role was to train drafts for the 1st and 2nd Line battalions. On 8 April 1916 it was renamed the 5th Reserve Bn DLI and on 1 September it absorbed the Reserve battalions of the other DLI TF battalions as part of the
27th Battalion
In 1915 the Home Service men of the 5th DLI and 4th East Yorkshire Regiment were combined into the 25th Provisional Battalion at York, where they were joined by the unfit men from the 2nd and 3rd Line TF battalions. The battalion served in home defence with 2nd Provisional Brigade, under the orders of Southern Army, and was billeted in St Osyth in Essex .[67][68][69]
The Military Service Act 1916 swept away the Home/Foreign service distinction, and all TF soldiers became liable for overseas service, if medically fit. The Provisional Brigades thus became anomalous, and on 1 January 1917 the remaining battalions became numbered battalions of their parent units: 25th Provisional Bn became 27th Battalion DLI and 2nd Provisional Brigade became the 222nd Brigade. Part of these units' role was physical conditioning to render men fit for drafting overseas, alongside units of the Training Reserve. The brigade moved to the Isle of Thanet in April 1917 but never served overseas, and 27th DLI was demobilised at Canterbury on 4 July 1919.[19][23][24][68][70][71][72]
Interwar
The TF was reconstituted on 7 February 1920 and tth Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, was reformed at Stockton. The TF was reorganised as the
During the late 1930s the increasing need for anti-aircraft (AA) defence for Britain's cities was addressed by converting a number of TA infantry battalions into AA units. 5th Battalion DLI was converted to the searchlight (S/L) role in 1938 as 54th Searchlight Regiment. Immediately afterwards the TA was expanded following the
1/5th Battalion DLI (54th Searchlight Regiment)
- HQ at Drill Hall, Church Road, Stockton-on-Tees
- 411, 412, 413 AA Companies
2/5th Battalion DLI (55th Searchlight Regiment)
- HQ at Drill Hall, Avenue Road, West Hartlepool
- 414, 415, 416 AA Companies
Second World War
Mobilisation
In February 1939 the UK's AA defences came under the control of a new Anti-Aircraft Command. In June 1939 a partial mobilisation of TA units was begun in a process known as 'couverture', whereby each AA unit did a month's tour of duty in rotation to man selected AA and searchlight positions. On 24 August, ahead of the declaration of war, AA Command was fully mobilised at its war stations.[75] Both DLI units were in 43 AA Brigade of 7 AA Division, which was still being formed in North East England when war was declared.[76][77]
54th Searchlight Regiment
Equipment was critically short at the outbreak of war. Luckily, the months of the Phoney War that followed mobilisation allowed AA Command to address its equipment shortages and a Gun Defence Area (GDA) with heavy AA (HAA) guns supported by S/Ls was established by 43 AA Bde around Teesside including Middlesbrough and Billingham.[78]
Blitz
On 1 August 1940 all the infantry units converted to the S/L role became part of the Royal Artillery (RA), so the 1/5th DLI became 54th (Durham Light Infantry) Searchlight Regiment, RA.[6][74][79][80][81] By the time the Luftwaffe's night Blitz against British cities began, 54th S/L Rgt had transferred to 31 (North Midland) AA Bde responsible for S/L defence of the West Yorkshire towns and cities. This became part of a new 10 AA Division on 1 November 1940.[82][83][84]
The S/L layouts had been based on a spacing of 3,500 yards (3,200 m), but due to equipment shortages this had been extended to 6,000 yards (5,500 m). As the Luftwaffe switched to night raids against London and other cities the S/L layout was changed in November to clusters of three lights to improve illumination, but this meant that the clusters had to be spaced 10,400 yards (9,500 m) apart. The cluster system was an attempt to improve the chances of picking up enemy bombers and keeping them illuminated for engagement by AA guns or RAF Night fighters. Eventually, one light in each cluster was to be equipped with searchlight control (SLC or 'Elsie') radar and act as 'master light', but the radar equipment was still in short supply. The number of raiders shot down steadily increased until mid-May 1941, when the Luftwaffe scaled down its attacks.[82][85][86][87]
Mid-War
54th (DLI) Searchlight Rgt supplied a cadre of experienced officers and men to 235th S/L Training Rgt at
By the Summer of 1941 AA Command began to receive purpose-built SLC radar in sufficient numbers to allow some S/Ls to be 'declustered' into single-light sites. These were redeployed into 'Indicator Belts' of radar-controlled S/L clusters covering approaches to the RAF's night-fighter sectors, repeated by similar belts covering AA Command's GDAs. Inside each belt was a 20-mile deep 'Killer Belt' of single S/Ls spaced at 6,000 yards (5,500 m) intervals, cooperating with night-fighters patrolling defined 'boxes'. The pattern was designed to ensure that raids penetrating deeply towards the GDAs would cross more than one belt, and the GDAs had more S/Ls at close spacing.[82][90][91] 54th S/L Rgt established a regimental school at Huttons Ambo where the Master Detachments for each indicator belt cluster were trained. In July it provided 12 'Scarecrow' S/L detachments supporting a Heavy AA Regiment deployed along the Yorkshire Coast, and it deployed mobile detachments each with a 90 cm S/L, sound detector and Light machine gun (LMG) at positions around RAF Church Fenton.[89]
547 S/L Battery left the regiment in January 1942, and the following month it was converted into 413 Light AA (LAA) Bty in 124th LAA Rgt, itself formed from 51st (Highland) S/L Rgt.[74][80][88][92][93] In September 1942, 413 LAA Bty left 124th LAA Rgt and joined 140th LAA Rgt in Essex, and afterwards moved to 143rd LAA Rgt; it remained in the UK for the rest of the war.[93][94]
On 30 September 1942 the AA Divisions and Corps were dissolved and a new 5 AA Group assumed responsibility for North-East England, including 31 AA Bde. The regiment remained part of this organisation for the next two years.[95][96][97]
North West Europe
Early in 1944, 31 AA Bde and its S/L units were earmarked for overseas service with 21st Army Group in Operation Overlord. The regiments re-equipped their AA LMG sections with twin Browning machine guns and carried out 'Bullseye' S/L exercises over North East England with the Night fighters of No. 264 Squadron RAF. Between training, field force AA units were loaned back to AA Command, and 31 AA Bde retained its responsibilities under 5 AA Group.[98][99]
The 'Overlord' planners envisaged searchlight-assisted night-fighter cover of the whole Normandy beachhead and bases once the landings had been made. A detailed plan was made in advance to have a belt of S/L positions deployed from
Even though assigned to GHQ AA Troops for 21st Army Group, 31 AA Bde remained in England under AA Command while the Normandy campaign was fought.
Brussels was liberated from the Germans in September 1944, and in October it came under bombardment by V-1 flying bombs (codenamed 'Divers'). To deal with this menace, an integrated system ('Brussels X' ) was developed with warning stations and observation posts, supported by radar and searchlights under the operational command of 101st AA Brigade. 54th S/L Regiment was despatched from England to join this layout, arriving between 10 and 19 November.[103]
The vital supply port of
On 12 May all AA positions in 21st Army Group were ordered to stand down, but this did not at first apply to those in coastal positions such as the Scheldt, because of uncertainty about the intentions of German naval units still at sea when the surrender was signed.[106] 54th (DLI) S/L regiment passed into suspended animation on 4 February 1946.[6][74][79]
55th Searchlight Regiment
As with the 1/5th DLI, the 2/5th Bn was transferred to the RA in August 1940 as 55th (Durham Light Infantry) Searchlight Regiment, RA.[6][74][79][80][81] It remained in 43 AA Bde in 7 AA Division covering North East England during the Blitz.[83][88] 530 Searchlight Bty formed by a cadre from 54th (DLI) S/L Rgt (see above) was regimented on 11 February 1941. Meanwhile 55th (DLI) S/L Rgt itself supplied a cadre to 234th S/L Training Rgt at Carlisle to form a new 557 S/L Bty on 13 February. This battery later joined a new 92nd S/L Rgt.[74]
In the autumn of 1941, 57 LAA Bde assumed responsibility for all the S/L units in 7 AA Division.[92] At the end of 1941 AA Command was still critically short of LAA units, and began a programme of converting S/L regiments to that role. 55th (DLI) S/L Regiment was one of those selected, and in January 1942 it became 113th (Durham Light Infantry) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment.[6][74][79][80][91][107][108]
113th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment
The new regiment was organised with 368, 369, 370, 371 LAA Btys, and at the beginning of April 1942 it took its place in 41 (London) AA Bde, defending East Anglia as part of 2 AA Division (5 AA Group from October 1942).[92][94][95]
371 LAA Battery was transferred to 20th LAA Rgt on 12 July 1942.[107] In June 1943 371 LAA Bty became independent as AA Command Operational Trials Battery at Minster on the Isle of Sheppey and at gunsite TS21 by the Thames Estuary, which was used by the scientists of AA Command's Operational Research Group under Patrick Blackett ('Blackett's Circus').[96][109][110][111][112]
113th LAA Rgt left 41 AA Bde at the beginning of December 1942, and early in 1943 it left AA Command entirely to join 21st Army Group as a mobile regiment equipped with
Normandy
When Operation Overlord was launched on
113th LAA Regiment was withdrawn from 80 AA Bde on 13 August and left the canal to rejoin 100 AA Bde, which had arrived in stages over the previous few weeks. When 21st Army Group broke out from the Normandy beachhead in the last days of August and crossed the Seine, 100 AA Bde followed up to provide LAA defence for the bridges. As the advance continued, it carried out the same procedure at the Somme crossings on 30 August. When the leading motorised groups of XII Corps and XXX Corps reached the outskirts of Antwerp on 5 September, the reconnaissance parties, tactical HQs and leading batteries of 100 and 106 AA Bdes were close on their heels. 113th LAA Rgt entered the city as the LAA component of 106 AA Bde[101][118][119]
Low Countries
This rapid advance was followed by the attempt to seize all the bridges to the
By late December, 100 AA Bde was with VIII Corps in southern Holland around
Across the Rhine
21st Army Group resumed its offensive in February 1945 with the three-week Operation Veritable to clear the Rhineland, in which 113th LAA Rgt was with 100 AA Bde supporting VIII Corps across the Meuse (Dutch: Maas) towards Venlo. This was followed by the set-piece assault crossing of the Rhine (Operation Plunder), in which 100 AA Bde supported XII Corps. The huge build-up of equipment and supplies represented a major AA defence task. Then 48 hours before Zero, the regiment was one of those that moved into concealed positions close up to the river bank. The operation. began on XII Corps' front at 22.00 on the night of 23/24 March. The Luftwaffe appeared the following night, with scattered attacks on bridging sites, artillery areas and supply routes, but there were few in 100 AA Bde's area. On D+1 (25 March) 113th LAA Rgt moved forward to defend the west bank bridgehead while 112th (DLI) LAA Rgt began taking up positions across the river. That night there were larger numbers of attacks by Junkers Ju 88 bombers, but 112th and 113th LAA Rgts dealt with these by firing 'radial zone' Bofors barrages using radar data; three enemy aircraft were shot down and others took evasive action. The following night was again busy, with disjointed raiding, but the night of 27 March was the last of any significant action. By 28 March XII Corps' bridges at Xanten were complete and the armoured divisions were beginning to advance across Germany.[123][124]
The regiments of 100 AA Bde advanced with VIII and XII Corps towards the
113th (DLI) LAA Regiment went into suspended animation between 1 February and 18 March 1946.[6][79][107]
Postwar
When the TA was reformed on 1 January 1947, 54th S/L Rgt was reconstituted at Stockton as 589 (The Durham Light Infantry) Searchlight Regiment, RA, and 113th LAA Rgt as 590 (The Durham Light Infantry) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA, both in 56 (Northumbrian) AA Bde based at Sunderland as part of 3 AA Group. Both were redesignated as Light Anti-Aircraft/Searchlight regiments on 16 March 1949, 589 becoming a 'Mixed' regiment including members of the Women's Royal Army Corps.[6][79][80][74][107][127][128][129][130][131]
AA Command was disbanded in 1955 and there were wholesale mergers among its TA regiments. The two DLI units amalgamated with 485 (Tees) Heavy AA Rgt at Middlesbrough to form 437 Light Anti-Aircraft Rgt with the following organisation:[6][79][127][128][132][133][134]
- RHQ at West Hartlepool
- P (North Riding) Bty – from 485 Rgt
- Q (Stockton) Bty – from 589 Rgt
- R (Hartlepool) Bty – from 590 Rgt
In this reorganisation some of 590 LAA/SL Rgt's personnel also formed 508 Field Squadron,
In 1961, 437 LAA Rgt, together with 885 Locating Battery at Darlington, was amalgamated into 463 (7th Durham Light Infantry) LAA/SL Rgt at Sunderland.[6][79][132][134][137] The newly merged regiment was going to take the subtitle 'Durham', but this was quickly changed to 'Durham Light Infantry'. RHQ and R Btys came from 463 LAA, P and Q Btys from 437 LAA. In 1964 the LAA designation was updated to 'Light Air Defence'.[79][128][137][138][139][140]
County of Durham Regiment
When the TA was reduced to the Territorial Army and Volunteer Reserve (TAVR) in 1967, 463 (Durham Light Infantry) LAD Rgt became the bulk of the County of Durham Regiment, RA, with the following organisation:[79][137][141][142][143]
- RHQ at Sunderland – from 463 (DLI) LAD Rgt
- P (1st Durham) Bty at Hebburn – from 274 (Northumbrian) Field Rgt
- Q (5DLI) Bty at West Hartlepool – from 463 (DLI) LAD Rgt
- R (7DLI) Bty at Sunderland – from 463 (DLI) LAD Rgt
However, many TAVR units were reduced to cadres in 1969, including the County of Durham Rgt. The DLI parts of the regiment joined 72 Engineer Rgt, RE, in which part of R Bty formed a Troop of 118 Field Squadron at Sunderland.[141][143][144]
The TAVR was expanded again in 1971, and the cadre of the County of Durham Rgt formed A (Durham Royal Artillery) Battery at Hordern in a new regiment, the Northumbrian Volunteers.[141][143][145] This battalion in turn was broken up in 1975, with A (Durham Royal Artillery) and E (6th/8th DLI) Companies transferring to 7th Battalion, The Light Infantry, thus reuniting four out of five of the former Volunteer units of the DLI in one battalion (the 9th battalion became a parachute unit).[145][146][147]
Insignia
In 1941, 55th (DLI) S/L Rgt sought permission to add the subtitle 'Palatine' and to adopt as their regimental arm badge the coat of arms of the Bishopric of Durham (a blue shield bearing a gold cross and a gold lion rampant in each quarter). Copies of the badge were printed and worn but permission for the title and badge was refused. After the Second World War, sergeants and above of 590 LAA Rgt wore a green lanyard to symbolise their DLI heritage.[79]
Honorary Colonels
The following officers served as Honorary Colonel of the battalion:[7]
- Harry Powlett, 4th Duke of Cleveland, KG, appointed (to 4th Admin Bn) 5 November 1864
- Lt-Col Sir VD, former CO, appointed 23 December 1896
- Col R. Burdon, VD, appointed 29 September 1911
- Col G.O. Spence, CB, DSO, TD, former CO, appointed 3 March 1922
- Brevet Col H.E. Kitching, MBE, former CO, appointed 14 November 1936[148]
Memorials
A wooden plaque bearing the battle honours of the 5th DLI was erected in St Thomas's Church, Stockton, after the First World War.[149]
Notes
- ^ Beckett.
- ^ Spiers, pp. 163–8.
- ^ Westlake.
- ^ a b c d e f Westlake, pp. 74–8.
- ^ Becket, Appendix VII.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Frederick, pp. 144–5.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Army List, various dates.
- ^ Westlake, p. 256.
- ^ Westlake, p. 258.
- ^ 1st Durham Rifle Volunteers (Stockton) at Brass Band Results.
- ^ Training Depots, 1873–1881 at Regiments.org.
- ^ Beckett, pp. 135, 185–6.
- ^ Dunlop, pp. 60–1.
- ^ Dunn, pp. 12–3.
- ^ Leslie.
- ^ Dunlop, Chapter 14.
- ^ Spiers, Chapter 10.
- ^ a b c d e f Becke, Pt 2b, pp. 993–100.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l James, p. 100–1.
- ^ a b c d e 50 Division at Long, Long Trail.
- ^ "50 Division at Regimental Warpath". Archived from the original on 29 November 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
- ^ a b Wyrall, pp. 1–4.
- ^ a b c d e f g h DLI at Long, Long Trail.
- ^ a b c d "DLI at Regimental Warpath". Archived from the original on 1 February 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
- ^ a b c d Becke, Pt 2b, pp. 49–54.
- ^ a b c 63 Division at Long, Long Trail.
- ^ Becke, Pt 2b, p. 6.
- ^ Wyrall, pp. 4–5.
- ^ Wyrall, pp. 5, 9, 13–5, 20–48.
- ^ Wyrall, pp. 49, 57–70.
- ^ Wyrall, pp. 71–7, 83–6, 89–92, 100.
- ^ Wyrall, pp. 100–9, 114–8, 120–34.
- ^ Wyrall, pp. 138-57.
- ^ Wyrall, pp. 161–4.
- ^ Wyrall, pp. 172–89.
- ^ Wyrall, pp. 207–23.
- ^ Wyrall, pp. 229–37.
- ^ Wyrall, pp. 239–49.
- ^ Wyrall, pp. 253–4.
- ^ Blaxland, pp. 50, 56, 63
- ^ Middlebrook, pp. 128, 207–8, 274.
- ^ Murland, pp. 156–60.
- ^ Wyrall, pp. 258–70.
- ^ Wyrall, pp. 274–5, 284-6.
- ^ Dunn, pp. 151–2.
- ^ Dunn, pp. 152–3.
- ^ Murland, pp. 191–2.
- ^ Wyrall, pp. 287–300.
- ^ Blaxland, pp. 96–7. 102.
- ^ Wyrall, pp. 301–5.
- ^ Blaxland, p. 119.
- ^ Dunn, pp. 157–8.
- ^ Wyrall, pp. 308–15.
- ^ Blaxland, p. 120.
- ^ Wyrall, pp. 323, 327–9, 332–4.
- ^ Blaxland, pp. 136–8.
- ^ Murland, p. 212.
- ^ Wyrall, pp. 333–9, 342-9.
- ^ Becke, Pt 3b, pp. 97–100.
- ^ "63rd Division at Regimental Warpath". Archived from the original on 18 November 2010. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
- ^ a b Becke, Pt 1, pp. 107–111.
- ^ a b 28th Division at Long, Long Trail.
- ^ "28th Division at Regimental Warpath". Archived from the original on 24 January 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
- ^ Wakefield & Moody, p. 136.
- ^ Capt Christopher Hughes, quoted in Wakefield & Moody, p. 136.
- ^ Wakefield & Moody, pp. 136–7.
- ^ Army Council Instructions, January 1916, Appendix 18.
- ^ a b David Porter's work on Provisional Brigades at Great War Forum.
- ^ Distribution of Northern and Southern Armies (Home Defence), The National Archives (TNA), Kew, file WO 33/765.
- ^ Army Council Instruction 2364 of December 1916 (Appendix 204).
- ^ Frederick, pp. 146, 184.
- ^ "Miscellaneous units at Regimental Warpath". Archived from the original on 15 November 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
- ^ Titles and Designations 1927.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Frederick, pp. 859, 861–2, 869.
- ^ Routledge, pp. 65–6, 371.
- ^ AA Command on 3 September 1939 at Patriot Files.
- ^ Routledge, Table LX, p. 378.
- ^ Routledge, p. 373.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Litchfield, pp. 55–8.
- ^ a b c d e Farndale, Annex M.
- ^ a b 54 S/L Rgt at RA 39–45.
- ^ a b c Pile's despatch.
- ^ a b Farndale, Annex D.
- ^ Routledge, Table LXV, p. 396.
- ^ Collier, Chapter XVI.
- ^ Collier, Chapter XVII.
- ^ Routledge, p. 393.
- ^ a b c Order of Battle of Non-Field Force Units in the United Kingdom, Part 27: AA Command, 12 May 1941, with amendments, TNA file WO 212/79.
- ^ a b 547 S/L Bty War Diary 1941, TNA file WO 166/3378.
- ^ Routledge, p. 99.
- ^ a b Routledge, pp. 398–404.
- ^ a b c Order of Battle of Non-Field Force Units in the United Kingdom, Part 27: AA Command, 2 December 1941, with amendments, TNA file WO 212/80.
- ^ a b 413 LAA Bty War Diary February –September 1942, TNA file WO 166/7761.
- ^ a b Order of Battle of Non-Field Force Units in the United Kingdom, Part 27: AA Command, 14 May 1942, with amendments, TNA file WO 212/81.
- ^ a b c Order of Battle of Non-Field Force Units in the United Kingdom, Part 27: AA Command, 1 October 1942, TNA file WO 212/82.
- ^ a b Order of Battle of Non-Field Force Units in the United Kingdom, Part 27: AA Command, 13 March 1943, TNA file WO 212/83.
- ^ Order of Battle of AA Command, 1 August 1943, TNA file WO 212/84.
- ^ a b 31 AA Bde War Diary, 1944, TNA file WO 171/1080.
- ^ a b Order of Battle of AA Command, 27 April 1944, TNA file WO 212/85.
- ^ Routledge, p. 304.
- ^ a b c Routledge, pp. 313–6.
- ^ Routledge, Table XLIX, p. 319; Table L, p. 327.
- ^ Routledge, Table LII, p. 331.
- ^ Routledge, p. 335; Table LIII, p. 342.
- ^ Routledge, Table LVII, p. 366.
- ^ Routledge, p. 363.
- ^ a b c d Frederick, pp. 805, 838.
- ^ 55 S/L Rgt at RA 39–45.
- ^ 371 LAA Bty War Diary June 1943, TNA file WO 166/11779.
- ^ 20th LAA Rgt War Diary 1943, TNA file WO 11692.
- ^ 371 LAA Bty War Diary 1944, TNA file WO 166/14770.
- ^ Routledge, p. 392.
- ^ Order of Battle of the Forces in the United Kingdom, Part 2: 21 Army Group, 24 July 1943, with amendments, TNA file WO 212/238.
- ^ Routledge, p. 306.
- ^ Routledge, Table XLIX, p. 319
- ^ Ellis, p. 335.
- ^ Pakenham-Walsh, pp. 365–6.
- ^ a b 80 AA Bde War Diary 1944, TNA file WO 171/1085.
- ^ Routledge, p. 320; Table L, p. 327.
- ^ Routledge, pp. 324–5, Table LI, pp. 329–30, Table LII, p. 331.
- ^ 474 S/L Bty War Diary 1944, TNA file WO 171/1213.
- ^ Routledge, pp. 345–7.
- ^ Routledge, pp. 349–59; Table LVI, p. 365.
- ^ Pakenham-Walsh, pp. 482–8.
- ^ Routledge, pp. 362–3; Table LVII, p. 366.
- ^ 103 AA Bde War Diary 1945, TNA file WO 171/4900.
- ^ a b c Frederick, p. 1024.
- ^ a b c 564–591 Rgts RA at British Army 1945 on.
- ^ Litchfield, Appendix 5.
- ^ Watson, TA.
- ^ 67–106 AA Bdes at British Army 1945 on.
- ^ a b Frederick, p. 1013.
- ^ Litchfield, p. 177.
- ^ a b 414–443 Rgts RA at British Army 1945 onwards.
- ^ Watson & Rinaldi, pp. 292, 294, 305.
- ^ 337–575 Sqns RE at British Army 1945 on.
- ^ a b c 444–473 Rgts RA at British Army 1945 onwards.
- ^ 414–443 Rgts RA at British Army 1945 on.
- ^ 80–117 Rgts RE at British Army 1945 on.
- ^ 118–432 Rgts RE at British Army 1945 on.
- ^ a b c Frederick, p. 1041.
- ^ 266–288 Rgts RA at British Army 1945 on.
- ^ a b c "County of Durham Rgt at Regiments.org". Archived from the original on 18 November 2005. Retrieved 18 November 2005.
- ^ Tyne Electrical Engineers at Regiments.org.
- ^ a b "Northumbrian Volunteers at Regiments.org". Archived from the original on 16 November 2005. Retrieved 16 November 2005.
- ^ "6th/8th Bn DLI at Regiments.org". Archived from the original on 23 November 2005. Retrieved 23 November 2005.
- ^ Young, Alan. "Territorial Army, Infantry, Durham Light Infantry". British Army Units from 1945 on. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
- ^ London Gazette, 13 November 1936.
- ^ Stockton Church Memorial IWM War Memorial Register, Ref 9790.
References
- Army Council Instructions Issued During January 1916, London: HM Stationery Office, 1916.
- Army Council Instructions Issued During December 1916, London: HM Stationery Office, 1916.
- Maj A.F. Becke,History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 1: The Regular British Divisions, London: HM Stationery Office, 1934/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2007, ISBN 1-847347-38-X.
- Maj A.F. Becke,History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 2a: The Territorial Force Mounted Divisions and the 1st-Line Territorial Force Divisions (42–56), London: HM Stationery Office, 1935/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2007, ISBN 1-847347-39-8.
- Maj A.F. Becke,History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 2b: The 2nd-Line Territorial Force Divisions (57th–69th), with the Home-Service Divisions (71st–73rd) and 74th and 75th Divisions, London: HM Stationery Office, 1937/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2007, ISBN 1-847347-39-8.
- Maj A.F. Becke,History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 3b: New Army Divisions (30–41) and 63rd (R.N.) Division, London: HM Stationery Office, 1939/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2007, ISBN 1-847347-41-X.
- Ian F.W. Beckett, Riflemen Form: A Study of the Rifle Volunteer Movement 1859–1908, Aldershot: Ogilby Trusts, 1982, ISBN 0 85936 271 X.
- Gregory Blaxland, Amiens: 1918, London: Frederick Muller, 1968/Star, 1981, ISBN 0-352-30833-8.
- Col John K. Dunlop, The Development of the British Army 1899–1914, London: Methuen, 1938.
- Clive Dunn, The Fighting Pioneers: the Story of the 7th Durham Light Infantry, Barnsley: Pen & Sword, 2015, ISBN 978-1-47382-348-8.
- Maj ISBN 1-845740-58-0.
- Gen Sir ISBN 1-85753-080-2.
- J.B.M. Frederick, Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660–1978, Vol I, Wakefield: Microform Academic, 1984, ISBN 1-85117-007-3.
- J.B.M. Frederick, Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660–1978, Vol II, Wakefield: Microform Academic, 1984, ISBN 1-85117-009-X.
- Brig E.A. James, British Regiments 1914–18, London: Samson Books, 1978/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2001, ISBN 978-1-84342-197-9.
- N.B. Leslie, Battle Honours of the British and Indian Armies 1695–1914, London: Leo Cooper, 1970, ISBN 0-85052-004-5.
- Norman E.H. Litchfield, The Territorial Artillery 1908–1988 (Their Lineage, Uniforms and Badges), Nottingham: Sherwood Press, 1992, ISBN 0-9508205-2-0.
- Martin Middlebrook, The Kaiser's Battle, 21 March 1918: The First Day of the German Spring Offensive, London: Allen Lane, 1978/Penguin, 1983, ISBN 0-14-017135-5.
- Jerry Murland, Retreat and Rearguard Somme 1918: The Fifth Army Retreat, Barnsley: Pen & Sword, 2014, ISBN 978-1-78159-267-0.
- Maj-Gen R.P. Pakenham-Walsh, History of the Corps of Royal Engineers, Vol IX, 1938–1948, Chatham: Institution of Royal Engineers, 1958.
- Brig N.W. Routledge, History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: Anti-Aircraft Artillery 1914–55, London: Royal Artillery Institution/Brassey's, 1994, ISBN 1-85753-099-3.
- Edward M. Spiers, The Army and Society 1815–1914, London: Longmans, 1980, ISBN 0-582-48565-7.
- Titles and Designations of Formations and Units of the Territorial Army, London: War Office, 7 November 1927; RA sections also reprinted in Litchfield Appendix IV.
- Alan Wakefield and Simon Moody, Under the Devil's Eye: Britain's Forgotten Army at Salonika 1915–1918, Stroud: Sutton, 2004, ISBN 0-7509-3537-5.
- Graham E. Watson & Richard A. Rinaldi, The Corps of Royal Engineers: Organization and Units 1889–2018, Tiger Lily Books, 2018, ISBN 978-171790180-4.
- Ray Westlake, Tracing the Rifle Volunteers, Barnsley: Pen and Sword, 2010, ISBN 978 1 84884 211 3.
- Everard Wyrall, The Fiftieth Division 1914–1919, 1939/Uckfield: Naval & Military, nd, ISBN 1-84342-206-9.
External sources
- Mark Conrad, The British Army, 1914 (archive site)
- British Army units from 1945 on
- Imperial War Museum, War Memorials Register
- The Long, Long Trail
- Orders of Battle at Patriot Files
- The Regimental Warpath 1914–1918 (archive site)
- Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth – Regiments.org (archive site)
- Royal Artillery 1939–1945
- Graham Watson, The Territorial Army 1947