Cross 6 D.L.I. 1914-18 St. Andrew

St. Andrew’s Church, South Church Road DL14 6SP.

In memorial Chapel

1914-18

Placed in the church on 26th June 1927

Wood Cross.
Brass plaque on wood pattress.

6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry

On cross:

In remembrance
of
the gallant Officers, NCOs and men
of the 6th Batt
The Durham Light Infantry
who fell in an attack
on the Butte
de
Warlancourt
Nov. 5th and 6th
1916

On plaque:
This wooden memorial cross of the 6th Bn The Durham Light Infantry was originally
erected on the summit of the Butte-de-Warlincourt in the Department of the Somme,
France, immediately after the severe attack which they made there on the
5th and 6th days of November 1916.
The cross with its plinth was prepared and constructed by the Pioneers of the
Unit under war conditions from material which was, it is believed, supplied by the
Royal Engineers. The memorial remained where it was erected for nearly ten
years, exposed to all the varying climatic conditions of Northern France until the autumn
of 1926 when at the request of the unit it was brought to England and placed in this church on
26th June 1927.

Cross raised at the Butte de Warlencourt to the 6th Batt. D.L.I.

It is 48 inches high x 36 inches wide (122cms x 91cms).

This was previously mounted on a stepped plinth on its original site.

The wood of the cross has gone grey with age. The lettering is in black paint.

The wording on the upper section of the cross is inserted diagonally across the wood and a D.L.I. badge is set at the very top.

Alongside the cross is a brass plaque 10 inches high x 12inches wide (25cms x 30cms) mounted on a wood pattress. This tells the story in sans serif capitals with headings in red. There is a single line red border. At the top is a cross in red with the 6th D.L.I. badge below.

1. There were three crosses on the Butte de Warlencourt. One commemorating the 8th D.L.I. is in Chester le Street C105.18; the other commemorating the 9th D.L.I. is in Durham Cathedral D47.073

2. The three crosses were brought together in 2006 for the first time since being brought from France, when the Durham Light Infantry Museum commemorated the 90th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.

Photos: Simon Raine; John and Mavis Dixon; James Pasby

The Monumental Brasses of County Durham William Lack, H. Martin Stuchfield and Philip Whittemore 2002 ISBN 095 4327101

Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale;
John and Mavis Dixon;
Dorothy Hall

If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk