Welcome to the DLI Friends

The first items of the Durham Light Infantry Collection were donated in 1924.
The collection now contains over 15,000 objects, 4,000 medals & over 34,000 photographs.
The DLI Friends group was first launched as a registered charity in 1976 to:
“purchase important Regimental relics and research material which may disappear overseas or otherwise be lost to the County, and to help in the preservation and display of the many items in the collection.”
Since those early days the DLI Friends have become much more ambitious and now also help support the education of school pupils  about the County’s military links and service.
Join our community of enthusiasts, scholars, and supporters. With your help the Friends will help to safeguard the heritage of the Durham soldier and the values for which he fought and died.
KEEP the memories alive
Help the Collection thrive
The DLI Friends is a charity run for, and by, people who support and work with, the DLI Collection. With the recent opening of “The Story”,  the new home of the DLI Collection and other County archives, there has never been a more exciting time to become involved as a DLI Friend

Research

Are you looking for your relatives?  We now have an online database with 16,400 records & 2,600 images which is being updated regularly. 
You can view it here DLI database
This database includes photos from our Faces of the Fallen Programme which is a ongoing piece of research that we have been carrying out for a number of years , the aim being to collate as many photos of those DLI men Killed in WW1 / WW2 as possible. If anyone has any such photos please do share them with the database via email to [email protected]   
We would also love to add any photographs you have of DLI relatives who served & survived.
If you are struggling with researching a relative who was in the DLI why not contact us here [email protected]   
DLI Friends researchers have always done biographical searches for pleasure but we do also accept voluntary donations to our charity by grateful enquirers.
Apart from monies needed to keep the DLI Friends charity functioning, all other monies  including such voluntary donations  are spent purchasing items for the DLI Collection, supporting DLI Collection initiatives or helping support the DLI Collection Education Team in their work with young people in County Durham.

Support The  DLI Friends with a Donation

Become a DLI Friend

Latest News

Making History

Why not join us at The Light with Curator, Charli Summers, for A Moment in Time: Attacks on High Wood, exploring the story behind the iconic High Wood Cross featured in We Are The Durhams.
Thursday 8th October 

DLI Friends Battlefield Tour

The DLI friends have recently visited the Ypres Salient & The Somme exploring DLI engagements in both the First and Second World Wars, including walks and research across the battlefields and locations connected to the High Wood Cross display at The Light.
 It was an amazingly informative trip thanks to our extremely knowledgeable guide Paul Errington. 

Wreaths were laid at several locations, including one at The Menin Gate Ceremony by our Chair Ian Brown.

We were lucky to be accompanied by the Curator and Exhibition Coordinator from “The Light” Charli Summers.

Family receive their Fathers medals following advice from The DLI friends.

Sheila & John Bowman visited one of our drop in days to try and find further information about Sheila’s fathers service in WW2. 
Our volunteer Sid Patterson gave guidance and advised the family to apply to the MOD for her fathers medals as they had never been issued, they called in at our latest drop in day and were delighted to show us the medals they had received.
Click on an image below to enlarge.

We are The Durhams

A selection of photographs from the recent opening of the “We are The Durhams” Exhibition at “The Light”
highwood3
highwood2
cross
highwood
guns
charlieB
st dunstans
room
Cup
Click on an image to enlarge and see more
 Stories by “The Centurion” now available to read here:
The Durhams in Korea
A great article about the brave Durhams in a forgotten war.
Faithful
An interesting story about local soldier Major General John Reed
The Lost Diary
Detective work by “The Centurion” proves that Frederick Stukeley Savage was the true author of the diary.
They Fight like Devils
A fascinating article about Edmund Arthur Guerin and his exploits in the Persian war.
Righting the Wrong
Exoneration of Bugle Major John Gibbons, and the slur that was cast against him.
More News stories here
You can also help raise funds for the DLI Friends when shopping online by using easy fund raising and it won’t cost you a penny.
Find out how by clicking the following link: 
Easy Fundraising
See our online events calendar here 
Feedback on our site and services may be given here: Feedback Form
Barbara Elder
Barbara Elder
WW1 Compass
WOW! Thank you so much Graeme. What a wonderful slice of history has been uncovered. I will be printing off the information you have very kindly found and keeping it safe with the compass. Hopefully when one of the grandchildren are studying WW1 at school they can take it and share the story!
Vicky
Family Research
I am just writing to let you know of the excellent experience myself and my family had when visiting the archives yesterday. We were lucky enough to find ourselves being helped by some of the DLI friends volunteers. They were all not only incredibly knowledgable about the time period we were there to study but they were kind, extremely helpful and interested in our family’s story. My particular thanks go to Sid Patterson and Graeme Bowser who went above and beyond to provide additional information after our visit. Kind regards Vicky
Anonymous
DLI drop in Day
We were lucky enough to speak to the expert DLI man, Sid, who definitely knew his stuff about the Durham Light Infantry. Although we didn’t exactly get everything we wanted Sid explained everything in detail for us which meant we found out a lot more that we hadn’t thought of. A real gem of a man. I am sure we wont be the only ones who will be amazed at his knowledge on the subject.
Rachel Ward
Researching my Grandfather
Please pass on my thanks to Paul for his hard work and research which is greatly appreciated.
Jane Bond
Online Shop
Prompt service & quick delivery, high quality clothing
Jonathan Woods
Mason Brothers
Malcolm, Thank you so much for your time looking into my family and finding these documents. It’s much appreciated.
Michael Loch
Trying to confirm a Soldier
Thank you so much. Can I ask where you got his DOB from? If it says that DOB on anything military, you have helped me to crack a decade long riddle. Mate that is so helpful. a big huuuuge THANK YOU Thanks so much for your time Graeme!
Alex Green
Ralph Edward Green
Ian Brown Thank you so much for this research. It is much appreciated.
Robert Braam
Thank You for Your Visit on May 5th
Dear Paul and members of the Durham Light Infantry Association. It was a real pleasure to meet you on May 5th with Pieter, thank you very much for joining us on such a meaningful day. We truly appreciated your presence and the opportunity to connect in person. We look forward to staying in touch and are hopeful for a positive and constructive collaboration in the future between us.
Anonymous
Anonymous
Donation in Memory of My Husband
In Memory of my Husband William Peter C***** who died recently. I enclose a cheque for £150 for your charity. Known as Bill to me, he served 6+ years starting as a conscript in 1955. Very proud to be with the DLI and never stopped talking about it. Sincerely, Kathleen M C*****