DLI Museum Closure

[Charliedog012012]

It is with real sadness that I have just read that it has been decided to close the Durham Light Infantry Museum, thus saving £220,000 a year. It is suggested that some of the collection would be made available for temporary exhibitions in order to achieve a wider audience and that the collection be moved to the Sevenhills building in Spennymoor. How much of the collection will be displayed and how much will end up in storage is at present undecided......but very very sad all the same.

[11th Armoured]

A great shame - I only had the opportunity to visit the place on one occasion, but it struck me as a nicely laid-out little museum with plenty to see.

DLI Museum photos

[Charliedog012012]

Excellent photographs. Thank you so much for sharing them.
...and yes, it was a wonderful museum; the displays were well thought out and presented to appeal to young and old alike. Last time that I was there, a group of junior school children were there and were loving their visit. Such a shame to see it closing. It seems ironic that this museum is closing so soon after the Green Howards Museum in Richmond reopened following a complete revamp.

[magpie]

I think a former member of the forum donated a large collection of Durham badges and helmet plates to the museum, I wonder what's going to happen to that.

[Peter Brydon]

You do start to wonder what there is in this country that those in authority consider worth saving ?

P.B.

[Mike Jackson]

The Museum was outstandingly helpful when I was researching 155 Regt C (15 DLI) for an article in Militaria magazine. Regimental flash unique to 155 Regt RAC below.
The Universal Carrier in the Museum (see Museum photos) is unique since it was found on some railway marshalling yard in northern England some 30 years ago, mint in its shipping crate. It still bore the transfer on the side of a maple leaf and slogan reading something like "A gift to the heroic Red Army from the freedom loving people of Canada" ie Canadian lease lend to the USSR. This transfer survived the unfortunate gloss green repaint. I do hope it goes to a good home with the Military Vehicle Trust. Mike
155 Regt RAC.04.jpg

[Charliedog012012]

Originally Posted by Mike Jackson

The Museum was outstandingly helpful when I was researching 155 Regt C (15 DLI) for an article in Militaria magazine. Regimental flash unique to 155 Regt RAC below.
The Universal Carrier in the Museum (see Museum photos) is unique since it was found on some railway marshalling yard in northern England some 30 years ago, mint in its shipping crate. It still bore the transfer on the side of a maple leaf and slogan reading something like "A gift to the heroic Red Army from the freedom loving people of Canada" ie Canadian lease lend to the USSR. This transfer survived the unfortunate gloss green repaint. I do hope it goes to a good home with the Military Vehicle Trust. Mike
Attachment 134663

I have to add that in the days before the Internet, I approached the museum to ask if they could help me in researching my great uncle who served with the 6th DLI during WW1 and who was killed in the Battle of the Somme. With these bare details, they were able to provide me with the relevant section of the war diary for the 6th DLI in a matter of days with no charge whatsoever. Fantastic!