The Sunderland Rifles was a Volunteer unit of the British Army formed in 1860. It went on to become a Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) in the Territorial Force and saw action as infantry and pioneers in some of the bloodiest actions on the Western Front during World War I. Between the wars it became an air defence unit, serving during World War II in The Blitz and the campaign in North West Europe, when it had a special role in the Rhine crossing. Postwar it continued in the Territorial Army in the air defence role until 1975, when its successor unit reverted to infantry.
Cap badge of the Durham Light Infantry, Territorial version (1909–53).
Men of 1/7th Bn DLI parading for the trenches, Reningelst, near Ypres, 29 April 1916.
William Orpen: The Butte de Warlencourt.
Pioneers laying duckboards at Passchendaele
The Durham Light Infantry (DLI) 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 and the 106th Regiment of Foot along with the Militia and Volunteers of County Durham.
Cap badge of the Durham Light Infantry, King's crown version (1902–53).
Monument to the Durham Light Infantry, Durham Marketplace.
The 2nd Durham Light Infantry installed this at Christ Church, Mhow during their tenure at Mhow between 1892 and 1896
Colour party of the 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry after receiving new colours from King Edward VII, 19 June 1909.