1st 8th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry

[Tony Lund]

Does anyone happen to know what the 1st 8th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry were up to on the 5th November 1916, and where they were at that time.

Thank you.

Tony.

[Andrew Hesketh]

Tony,

I've got the 1/6th battalion history and the 1/8th were in the same brigade. They were involved in an attack on the Butte de Warlencourt on the 5th, with the 1/8th on the 1/6th's right. Casualties were huge.

[Tony Lund]

Thanks,

I didn’t know about this man when I had the Official History volume with me, thanks again.

Tony.

[SMG65]

Tony

I am away from my books at the minute and I'll reply fuller on Monday.

The attack on 5/11/16 was a disaster.

9 DLI got onto the Butte but were driven off due to lack of resources and manpower.

6 & 8 DLI didn't really get out of the starting blocks through no fault of their own (you can't advance quickly in 2 feet of mud with all the guns in the surrounding area concentrating on you).

They took heavy casualties and ended up where they started.

The whole attack was a complete folly.

More on Monday.

Sean

[Andrew Hesketh]

Tony /Sean,

If you want a copy of 'The story of the 6th Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry: France, April 1915-November 1918' by Sir. Ralph Bignell Ainsworth for free (I jest not), then click here >>>> http://www.archive.org/details/6thbattaliondur00ainuoft