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Unknown Somme Soldier #33


Do you recognise this DLI Private?


In summer 1916, whilst the Battle of the Somme was raging less than 10 miles away, hundreds of British soldiers, including men from the DLI, had their photographs taken by an enterprising French photographer in the village of Warloy-Baillon.

These photographs were clearly taken in summer. Look at the leaves on the trees and the weeds on the cobbled paths. And it had been raining. Look at the mud on the men’s boots and puttees (the long strips of cloth wrapped around the lower leg to provide ankle support and stop stones and water getting into the boots).

But who were these DLI soldiers?

There are clues in the uniforms and badges being worn by each soldier that may help identify him.

This unknown (and rather sad-looking) Private soldier is wearing the cheaper, simplified khaki Service Dress tunic that was introduced in late 1914, when so many men were enlisting and needing uniforms. This tunic has plain un-pleated top pockets and no extra shoulder patches to prevent wear from rifle and equipment straps.

Unusually, in this collection of Unknown Somme photos, this soldier is wearing his distinctive DLI cap badge in a so-called ‘Gor Blimey’ cap. This soft, woollen, unmilitary-looking cap, issued in 1915 to replace the stiff Service Dress cap, had flaps that could be buttoned under the chin in bad weather or fastened up (as here) when not needed.

There is also a hint of a cloth ‘battle patch’ at the top of his left sleeve. These differently shaped and coloured cloth patches were introduced during the war to distinguish battalions within a division. If this soldier was part of the 151st Brigade of the 50th Division (as is suspected), then the 6th Battalion DLI wore RED diamonds; the 8th Battalion DLI wore dark BLUE diamonds; and the 9th Battalion DLI wore GREEN diamonds.

Did a copy of this photo get sent home to his wife, his parents or his sweetheart?

Was this soldier your ancestor?

If you know who this soldier was, please, contact us.

For more information about this project, go to the WHAT’S ON section of the DURHAM AT WAR website and search for the PROJECT named UNKNOWN SOMME SOLDIER.

Gender: Male

Contributed by Durham County Record Office


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