World War 2 History
Tracing DLI soldiers of the Second World War
For details of a soldier who served in The Durham Light Infantry during the Second World War (1939 - 1945), you should write to the address below with the soldier's full name, rank, number (if known) and regiment, eg: Thomas Atkins, Private, 4441990, DLI.
Army Personnel Centre
Historic Disclosures
Mail Point 400
Kentigern House
65 Brown Street
Glasgow
G2 8EX
Note: The APC will only disclose details on the written authority of the soldier concerned or his legal next of kin.
Medals
To discover what medals were awarded to a soldier, you should write to the Army Medal Office with the soldier's full name, rank, number and regiment.
Army Medal Office
Building 250
RAF Innsworth
Gloucester
GL3 1EZ
WW2 campaign medals (like the Africa Star or Burma Star ) were not sent automatically to soldiers after the war. Soldiers had to claim their medals and many did not. These medals may still be claimed.
Graves
For details of a soldier's grave or memorial, you should contact the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 2 Marlow Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 7DX. (Tel: 01628 634221) with the soldier's full details (if known) of name, rank, number and regiment.
The DLI Museum's Archive
The DLI Museum's archive has been transferred to Durham County Record Office, County Hall, Aykley Heads, Durham City (Tel: 0191-3833253) where it has been fully catalogued and made available on-line to researchers. This Archive contains some very useful WW2 records, covering not only the DLI at home and abroad but also the Durham Home Guard.
War Diaries for the 1st, 6th, 8th and 9th Battalions DLI
These War Diaries rarely mention a soldier by name, but are very useful for giving the circumstances of a soldier's death or wounding, plus essential background information for any soldier's career. Note: All the DLI's WW2 War Diaries are held at the National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU.
Photograph Albums
There are some albums dating from the Second World War (eg. for 2nd, 6th, 8th, 15th and 70th Battalions DLI) but unfortunately most photographs are unnamed.
Other Records
Other interesting WW2 records include unpublished battalion histories, Regimental Newsletters (including Prisoner of War lists 1940-43), maps, soldier’s papers, etc.
Medal Rolls
The DLI Museum has a list of (most) bravery awards to the Regiment for WW2, from the Victoria Cross to Mentions in Despatches. Copies of the original citations are also held for many of these awards.
If you require any further help, contact us, but before you do you should try to find in your family the soldier's documents, pay book, identity discs, photographs, etc. These will often tell you more about a soldier's service during the Second World War than any 'official' source.
Book List (1939 - 1945)