Durham Light Infantry - 6th Bn (TF)

This post will look at regimental numbering in the 6th (Territorial Force) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry between 1908 and 1914. Use the information below to estimate when your ancestor joined this particular battalion. Note that all Territorial Force battalions had their own unique number series (and for that matter, some operated more than one number series). So if your ancestor served in the 7th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, this post won't be for you. Nothing to see here, move along...

The 6th Durham Light Infantry was headquartered at Bishop Auckland and its eight companies drew men from the following locations:

A Company: Bishop Auckland, with a drill station at Coundon; B Company: Bishop Auckland with a drill station at West Auckland; C Company: Spennymore; D Company: Crook, with a drill station at Willington; E Company: Stanhope, with drill stations at Rookhope and Wolsingham; F Company: Barnard Castle, with a drill station at Staindrop; G & H Companies drew men from Consett. The battalion was part of the Durham Light Infantry Brigade in the Northumbrian Division.

Here are some sample regimental numbers for the 6th Durham Light Infantry. These were issued sequentially, beginning at No 1 on the 1st April 1908. The vast majority of early recruits would have been men who were serving with the 2nd Volunteer Battalion.

192 joined on the 7th April 1908
1005 joined on the 30th March 1909
1161 joined on the 21st February 1910
1317 joined on the 26th January 1911
1531 joined on the 29th March 1912
1786 joined on the 8th February 1913
2003 joined on the 2nd March 1914
2238 joined on the 7th August 1914 

Use the regimental numbers above to estimate when a man would have joined this battalion between 1908 and August 1914. For example, if your man had the number 1500 and came from Crook, he would have joined in the first quarter of 1912 and would have probably served in D Company. 

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To search for photos of your Durham Light Infantry ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website.