Durham Light Infantry, 2nd/9th 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, the 2nd/9th Battalion DLI was formed at Ravensworth, where the 1st/9th was then in training. The new battalion remained in the Gateshead area until early 1915. During these months, the two battalions exchanged men, as the first line battalion weeded out those soldiers less fit for active 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, in June 1915, the 3rd/9th Battalion was formed out of the 2nd/9th Battalion.
During 1915 and 1916, the 2nd/9th Battalion was moved from camp to camp; all the time sending drafts of trained soldiers to join the 1st/9th Battalion in France, until the battalion was no longer fit itself for front line service.
On 31 October 1916, the 2nd/9th Battalion, together with the 2nd/5th Battalion DLI, was sent to the Greek port of Salonika as a garrison battalion. Leaving Southampton on 4 November, Salonika was reached on 15 November. There the 2nd/9th Battalion spent over two tedious years guarding buildings and bridges; fetching and carrying stores and supplies. During those years, the battalion lost more men to malaria and dysentery than to Bulgarian bullets.
In February 1918, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Henderson arrived to take command. In July 1919, the 2nd/9th Battalion was moved out of Salonika to Kalamaria, before it was finally demobilised in early January 1920.
Contributed by Durham County Record Office
