Durham Militia / DLI Print E-mail

St Mary's Parish Church in Barnard Castle had a long association with the Durham Militia. First headquartered in the town in 1759, the Durham Militia, Durham Fusiliers and then the Durham Light Infantry (3rd and 4th Battalions) remained here until finally disbanded on 30th April 1953.  There are many memorials and reminders within St. Mary's Church, in close proximity and in other parts of the town.

Inside St. Marys;

The Regimental colours were laid up in St Mary's on several occasions between 1759 and 1906.  4 pairs of Colours are still preserved within the Church.

Plaque commemorating Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates of the DLI who died in the Boer War.

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The west window glass, presented in 1870 in memory of William Maude, Lieutenant Colonel Durham Fusiliers and was donated by his Brother Officers.

Memorial to Captain Webb who died of his wounds received in the Charge of the Light Brigade in 1854 .

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The internal doors are a memorial to the men of the DLI who died in the 1914 - 1918 war.  Their names and ranks are displayed around the entrance.

In the Church Yard;

In the south-eastern corner of the Churchyard is the memorial stone to Benjamin Sweeten, late Quartermaster of the 52nd Light Infantry Regiment.

In the town;

Located in the WWII Garden of Remembrance, Galgate, this Boer War memorial is inscribed;

"PRO PATRIA  In memory of the Officers, NCOs and Men of the 3rd (Militia) Batt The Durham Light Infantry, The Imperial Yeomanry and local Volunteers attached to the Line Regiments who died in South Africa during the Boer War 1899-1902."

This archway on Birch Road was the entrance to the Regimental Barracks.  Sold to the town in 1930 the site is now used for sheltered housing. Entrance to DLI Barracks - sold to Barnard Castle Council 1930
The 1914 - 1918 DLI War Memorial in the grounds of the Bowes Museum