Durham Light Infantry, 2nd/5th Battalion
Territorial Force battalion
Before the First World War began in August 1914, the Durham Light Infantry, County Durham’s own infantry regiment, was made up of nine battalions each of about 1,000 men. There were two Regular battalions of full-time professional soldiers, many of whom came from outside the North East of England; two Reserve battalions of part-time volunteers and ex-Regular soldiers; and five Territorial Force battalions of part-time volunteers centred on key County towns. There was also a Depot or headquarters shared with the Northumberland Fusiliers at Fenham Barracks in Newcastle upon Tyne.
By the end of the war in November 1918, the DLI had grown to 43 battalions, as new Reserve, Service, Territorial, Young Soldier, and other battalions were formed. Of these 43 battalions, 22 served in war zones from the Western Front to the North West Frontier of India.
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As soon as the First World War began, so many recruits went to drill halls across County Durham to join the DLI’s Territorial battalions that second line battalions were soon possible. In September, in Stockton and Darlington, where the 5th Battalion DLI drew its support, the 2nd/5th Battalion DLI was formed. Many old Volunteer officers and sergeants quickly offered their services to train the new battalion.
The new battalion remained in Stockton, billeted in public buildings, until March 1915, when it moved to Long Benton, as part of the 189th Brigade of the 63rd Division. During this time, the battalion had sent many recruits to the 1st/5th Battalion DLI and accepted in return men, who were not available for overseas service.
When the Northumbrian Division was sent to France in April 1915, the role of the second line Territorial battalions was reviewed and it was decided to create a new reserve third line battalion from men, who were only fit for home service. Thus the 3rd/5th Battalion DLI was formed out of the 2nd/5th Battalion.
After moving to Cramlington in July 1915, the 2nd/5th Battalion moved first to Retford and then, in July 1916, to Catterick. All the time, drafts of trained soldiers were being sent to join the 1st/5th Battalion in France, until the battalion was no longer fit itself for front line service.
On 31 October 1916, the 2nd/5th Battalion, together with the 2nd/9th Battalion DLI, was sent to the Greek port of Salonika as a garrison battalion. Leaving Richmond by train and going by train across France and by ship from Marseilles, Salonika was reached on 15 November 1916.
At Salonika, the 2nd/5th Battalion lost more men to malaria and dysentery than to Bulgarian bullets. Then, in September 1918, with the near collapse of the Bulgarian Army, the Allies began a final offensive. The battalion took no active role in this, however, after the surrender of the Bulgars and the Turks, the battalion was ordered to occupy the Black Sea port of Varna.
In February 1919, the 2nd/5th Battalion moved to Batum, and then, in September 1919, having already seen many men demobilised, sailed for England. The 2nd/5th Battalion DLI was finally disbanded in early November 1919, having been absent overseas almost three years.
Contributed by Durham County Record Office
