Catalogue

The Army Form B358 Enlistment Books and Transfers-In Books (D/DLI 15/1/1 - 56), Annual Discharges Books (D/DLI 15/2/4-21, 23-42) and Discharge Rolls (D/DLI 15/2/1-3, 22) were presented to the Durham County Record Office, via the D.L.I. Museum, by The National Archives under section 3(6) of the Public Records Act 1958. The records were created by the Ministry of Defence for the purpose of recording the enlistment, transfer and discharge of soldiers (other ranks) in The Durham Light Infantry regiment. These records are no longer public records and Crown copyright ceases to apply. Regimental Numbers The six figure series of regimental numbers used by the British Army in the First World War was replaced by a new eight digit series in August 1920. The numbers allocated to The Durham Light Infantry regiment were: Durham Light Infantry 4,435,001 - 4,523,000 A soldier, when posted to a corps or regiment on enlistment, was assigned an army number by the officer in charge of records. He retained this number throughout his service, irrespective of any subsequent posting or transfer, and an ex-soldier, on re-enlistment, resumed the army number previously allocated to him. However, for soldiers who had enlisted before August 1920, and continued to serve, or re-enlisted after the introduction of the eight digit series of regimental numbers, a new number was allocated. Re-numbering also applied to men who enlisted into the Militia under the Military Training Act, 1939. During the Second World War, from 1942 onwards, almost all recruits were enlisted in the General Service Corps, where they completed their primary training before being posted to a corps or regiment. The army numbers 14,200,001 - 15,000,000 were allocated to the General Service Corps. For further information on army numbers, see Norman Holding, More Sources of WW1 Army Ancestry, Federation of Family History Societies, Chapter 3, and http://www.airbornerecce.com/dtroop/tables/anumbers.htm

These books record the soldiers who enlisted in The Durham Light Infantry Regiment or who were transferred in from other regiments or corps, in the period from 1921 to 1945. They include soldiers who had originally enlisted in the regiment from 1899 onwards, and continued to serve after the First World War, and were therefore given a new army number in 1921. Ref. nos: D/DLI 15/1/1-5 The first five enlistment books cover soldiers serving in the regiment in 1921 who had enlisted in the period 1899 - July 1921. They record the following information: Army no./Name (in full) (Surname first)/Date of Attestation/Place of Attestation/Transfer to or from Regiment or Corps and Date/Trade on Enlistment/Period of Mobilized or Embodied Service/Place of Birth (Parish, Town, County)/Full Name and Nationality of Woman to whom married, and Name of each Child (if any) (in ink); if unmarried; name and address of next-of-kin stating relationship (in pencil)/Place of Marriage, and of Birth of each Child/Date of Marriage, and of Birth of each Child/Campaigns, Wounds, Medals or Rewards of any kind/Date of Discharge or becoming Non-Effective/Place/Cause/Rank and Character on Discharge/Rate of pension awarded (if any)/Address on Discharge/ Particulars of Former Service giving Corps and Number/Remarks. There is a name index at the end of each volume. Ref. nos: D/DLI 15/1/6-14 These enlistment books, from mid-1921 onwards, include a few entries for soldiers who enlisted before 1921. Information is recorded in the following format: Number/Names (in full) (Surname first)/Date of Attestation/Whether Serving in Regular Army, Militia or Territorial Force/Period for which enlisted, in years/Age, Yrs. Mths./Place of Attestation/Trade on Enlistment/Place of Birth (a) Parish (b) Town (c) County/Period for which Re-engaged, in years/Particulars of Transfers (a) Corps stating whether transferred to or from (b) Date of transfer (c) Former Number, if changed/ Period of Mobilized or Embodied Service/Former Service in Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Regular Army, Militia, Special Reserve, Territorial Force, or Royal Air Force, and number therein (1) Particulars of Force or Corps (2) Former Number, Period Yrs. Days/Full Name and Nationality of Woman to whom married, and Name of each child (if any)/Place of Marriage, and of birth of each Child/Campaigns, Wounds, Medals or Rewards of any kind/Discharge or becoming Non-Effective (a) Date (b) Place, Cause, Rank and Character on Discharge, Rate of pension awarded (if any), Address on Discharge/Remarks. There is a name index at the end of each volume. Ref nos: D/DLI 15/1/15-16 These volumes concern soldiers who transferred from other regiments or corps to The Durham Light Infantry. The information recorded is the same as in D/DLI 15/1/1-5. Ref. nos: D/DLI 15/1/17-56 A different format, the Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, was introduced in 1931. The registers, which are less detailed than the earlier enlistment books, record the following information: Army No./Names (in full) (Surname first)/Transfer to other Corps or cause of becoming non-effective and record of re-enlistment (if any) (including date). There is a name index at the end of each volume. The date of enlistment is not usually given, but at the front of some of the registers an army clerk has noted the date when the book was started. If a soldier was killed in action, died of wounds, or taken prisoner of war, this is recorded in the Transfer/Non-Effective column of the register.

Army Form B 358 enlistment book, Durham Light Infantry, no. 1, nos. 4435001 - 4436000, November 1899 - 6 May 1919

Army Form B 358 enlistment book, Durham Light Infantry, no. 2, nos. 4436001 - 4437000, 30 November 1915 - 20 June 1919

Army Form B 358 enlistment book, Durham Light Infantry, no. 3, nos. 4437001 - 4438000, 1 February 1919 - 21 June 1920

Army Form B 358 enlistment book, Durham Light Infantry, no. 4, nos. 4438001 - 4439000, 21 June - 26 August 1920

Army Form B 358 enlistment book, Durham Light Infantry, no. 5, nos. 4439001 - 4440000, 19 October 1899 - 14 July 1921

Army Form B 358 enlistment book, Durham Light Infantry, no. 6, nos. 4440001 - 4441000, 20 June - 25 October 1921

Army Form B 358 enlistment book, Durham Light Infantry, no. 7, nos. 4441001 - 4442000, 11 July 1921 - 7 July 1922

Army Form B 358 enlistment book, Durham Light Infantry, no. 8, nos. 4442001 - 4443000, July 1922 - 19 September 1923 Includes: enlistments from 17 April 1905

Army Form B 358 enlistment book, Durham Light Infantry, no. 9, nos. 4443001 - 4444000, 1 October 1923 - 13 January 1925

Army Form B 358 enlistment book, Durham Light Infantry, no. 10, nos. 4444001 - 4445000, 1 January 1925 - 2 January 1926

Army Form B 358 enlistment book, Durham Light Infantry, no. 11, nos. 4445001 - 4446000, 15 December 1925 - 15 April 1927

Army Form B 358 enlistment book, Durham Light Infantry, no. 12, nos. 4446001 - 4447000, 12 April 1927 - 21 June 1928

Army Form B 358 enlistment book, Durham Light Infantry, no. 13, nos. 4447001 - 4448000, 21 June 1928 - 19 February 1930

Army Form B 358 enlistment book, Durham Light Infantry, no. 14, nos. 4448001 - 4449000, 24 January 1930 - 7 May 1931

Army Form B 358 enlistment book, Durham Light Infantry, no. 15, Outside Numbers Over [numbers above 4523000], 14 November 1904 - 17 April 1941

Army Form B 358 enlistment book, Durham Light Infantry, no. 16, Outside Numbers Under [numbers under 4435001], 24 July 1899 - 15 July 1939

Army Form B 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 15, nos. 4449001 - 4449999, 1 May 1931 - March 1933

Army Form B 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 16, nos. 4450000 - 4450999, 18 March 1933 - June 1934

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 17, nos. 4451000 - 4451999, 18 June 1934 - May 1936

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 18, nos. 4452000 - 4452999, 13 May 1936 - May 1938

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 19, nos. 4453000 - 4454516, 11 May 1938 - 1939

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 20, nos. 4454517 - 4456035, 1939

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 21, nos. 4456036 - 4457228, 1939

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 22, nos. 4457229 - 4458244, 1939 - 1940

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 23, nos. 4458245 - 4459265, 1940

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 24, nos. 4459266 - 4460284, 1940

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 25, nos. 4460285 - 4461264, 1940

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 26, nos. 4461265 - 4462284, 1940

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 27, nos. 4462285 - 4463284, 1940

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 28, nos. 4463285 - 4464305, 1940

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 29, nos. 4464306 - 4465315, 1940

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 30, nos. 4465316 - 4466335, 1940

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 31, nos. 4466336 - 4467355, 1940

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 32, nos. 4467356 - 4468375, 1940 - 1941

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 33, nos. 4468376 - 4469395, 1941

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 34, nos. 4469396 - 4470415, 1941 - 1942

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 35, nos. 4470416 - 4470822, 1942; 1946 - 1947 Includes: some enlistment dates from no. 4470680 onwards

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, 30th (Home Defence) Battalion Book I, no. 42, nos. D/3693 - D/41886, Under Numbers, and 4435273 - 4455266, 1939 - 1940 Includes: lists of militiamen who joined the D.L.I. Depot and were posted to the Militia Recruit Company (nos. 10,100,100 onwards), 15 July - October 1939, and a list of the army numbers allotted later

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, 30th (Home Defence) Battalion Book II, no. 43, Inside Numbers 4455279 - 4457246, Over Numbers, Under Numbers and D/Numbers, 1939 - c.1942

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 44, Under Numbers, 1 November 1939 - 1940

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 45, Under Numbers, 1940 - September 1941

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 46, Odd Numbers Under, Book IV, September 1941 - c.1942

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 47, Odd Numbers Under, Book V, c.1943

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 48, Odd Numbers Over, Book II, 21 April 1941 - 1942

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 49, Over Numbers, Book III, c.1942 - 1943

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 50, General Service Corps, 12 February 1942 - c.1943

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 51, General Service Corps, Book II, c.1943 - 1944

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 52, Odd Numbers Over, June 1943 - 1944

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 53, Odd Numbers Under, Book VI, 24 November 1943 - c.1945

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 54, General Service Corps, c.January 1943 - 1944

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 55, General Service Corps, c.1944

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 56, General Service Corps, c.August 1944 - 1945

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 57, Odd Numbers Under, c.1945

Army Boopk 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 58, General Service Corps, September 1945 - c.1946

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 59, Odd Numbers Over, c.1939 - 1945

Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, no. 70, personnel serving or having served in the Royal Artillery Search Light [Regiments], c.1939 - 1945

These books were compiled to record the transfer of documents of non-effective soldiers. The army service records of other ranks who became non-effective in each year, by reason of discharge, death or desertion, were despatched from Infantry and A.A.C. Records to the War Office Records, at Droitwich, Worcestershire, for custody in accordance with War Office regulations. Ref. nos. D/DLI 15/2/1-3, 22 The nominal rolls of soldiers discharged, 1920 - 1930, and 1939, are arranged alphabetically, then in order of army number. The following information is recorded: Army number/rank/name/date of discharge, death or desertion/remarks. Ref. nos. D/DLI 15/2/4-21, 23-42 The annual discharges books, 1921 - 1958, are also arranged in alphabetical sections, and in army number order within each section. They list: Army number/rank/name/date of discharge/remarks. From 1947 onwards the cause of discharge is recorded. Details of re-enlistment are included.

Nominal roll of soldiers who died, Durham Light Infantry, 1920 - 1930

Nominal roll of soldiers who deserted or were discharged, Durham Light Infantry, A - S 4445149, 1920 - 1930

Nominal roll of soldiers who deserted or were discharged, Durham Light Infantry, S 4445168 - Z, 1920 - 1930

Discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1921

Discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1922 Includes: list of re-enlistments

Non-pensionable discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1923

Non-pensionable discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1924

Non-pensionable discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1925

Non-pensionable discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1926

Non-pensionable discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1927

Non-effective discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1928

Non-effective discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1929

Discharges, deserters and deaths book, Durham Light Infantry, 1930

Discharges, deserters and deaths book, Durham Light Infantry, 1931

Non-pensionable discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1932

Non-pensionable and non-effective discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1933

Non-pensionable and non-effective discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1934

Non-effective discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1935

Non-effective discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1936

Non-effective discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1937

Non-effective discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1938

Nominal roll of soldiers discharged, Durham Light Infantry, 1939

Discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1939

Discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1940

Discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1941

Discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1942

Deaths and discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1943

Deaths and discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1944

Deaths and discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1945

Deaths and discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1946

Discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1947

Discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1948

Discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1949

Discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1950

Discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1951

Discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1952

Discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1953

Discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1954

Discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1955

Discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1956

Discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1957

Discharges book, Durham Light Infantry, 1958