Durham Light Infantry | |
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Cap badge of the Durham Light Infantry, King's crown version (1902–53).
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Active | 1881–1968 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | British Army |
Type | Infantry |
Role | Light infantry |
Size |
2 Regular battalions
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Garrison/HQ |
Sunderland Barracks, Sunderland (1881–1884) Fenham Barracks, Newcastle upon Tyne (1884–1939) Brancepeth Castle, Durham (1939–1962) |
Nickname(s) | The Dirty Little Imps The Faithful Durhams |
Colours |
Facing colour: White (from 1881) Dark Green (from 1903) Regimental Colours: Red and Dark Green |
March | Slow: The Old 68th Quick: The Light Barque Double: Moneymusk |
Anniversaries |
Inkerman Day (5 November) Hooge Day (9 August) |
Engagements |
Mahdist War Second Boer War First World War North West Frontier Second World War Korean War Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation |
Battle honours | see below |
Commanders | |
Ceremonial chief | Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra of Kent |
Insignia | |
Identification symbol |
Within a Bugle Horn stringed the letters "D.L.I." |
2 Regular battalions
The Durham Light Infantry (D.L.I.) was a light infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1968. It was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) and the 106th Regiment of Foot (Bombay Light Infantry) along with the Militia and Volunteers of County Durham.
The regiment served notably in the Second Boer War, World War I and World War II, the Korean War and the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation. During times of peace it had duty in India, China, West Germany and Cyprus.
In 1968, the regiment was amalgamated with the Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry, the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and the King's Shropshire Light Infantry to form The Light Infantry, which again amalgamated in 2007 with the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment and the Royal Green Jackets to form a new large regiment, The Rifles, which continues the lineage of the regiment.