AN artist’s impression of a new national memorial to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers of a regiment was unveiled last night.

Details of the life-sized bronze statue of a Durham Light Infantry (DLI) bugler dressed in the combat uniform of the Korean War were revealed at the official launch of a drive to raise £75,000 to fund it.

The plans were instigated by two former DLI soldiers who visited the National Memorial Arboretum, in Staffordshire, where they discovered to their dismay that their regiment was not honoured among the others there.

Former signaller Keith Straughier and former bugler Richard Softley, who were at the DLI Museum and Art Gallery, in Durham City, last night to help launch the appeal, have already raised £6,000 towards the memorial.

They secured the backing of the trustees of the DLI and the approval of the trustees of the arboretum to place the memorial in a prominent site.

They have also been given the stamp of approval for the life-sized bronze on a slab of Durham granite and mounted on a 4ft plinth, as illustrated by former DLI Captain Tony Lynn.

Mr Lynn said: “I was very proud to be asked to come up with the illustration. We have worked on many designs and this is the sixth version, which has now been approved by the arboretum.”

Mr Straughier said the statue was symbolic because it was a platoon of 1 DLI buglers who sounded the ceasefire in Korea for the whole of the Commonwealth Division, from a hilltop in the front line.

HOW TO DONATE

Cheques, made payable to the Regimental and Chattels Charity of the former DLI, should be sent to: The DLI Memorial Appeal, The Rifles Durham Office, Elvet Waterside, Durham DH1 3BW.