A HISTORICAL re-enactment group which keeps alive the memory of volunteers who went to war never to return has welcomed a campaign for a battlefield memorial to their sacrifice.

Over the weekend, members of the Durham Pals Living History Group were out in force at Tanfield Railway, near Stanley giving passengers a flavour of life in the North-East 100 years ago, when so many of the region’s young men were sent abroad to fight in the First World War.

The group draws inspiration from the 18th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry, better knows as the Durham Pals, made up of young men from across the county who volunteered to do their bit for King and Country at the outbreak of war.

Wearing authentic soldiers’ uniforms, re-enactors mingled with present-day passengers on board the steam engines as part of the railway's Great War Weekend.

Group member Rob Langham, 27, from Bowburn, near Durham, said: “This is the third year we have done and it is really great.

“It is a spot on location for telling the story of the how the Home Front in the North-East was affected during the First World War.”

Formed in September 1914, the Durham Pals was made up of friends from County Durham’s farms and pit villages, steel towns and market towns.

At the Battle of the Somme, 300 of the Pals were killed or injured in a single day of slaughter.

Earlier this year, to mark the centenary of their sacrifice, The Northern Echo launched a campaign for a battlefield memorial to honour the County Durham soldiers who gave up their lives.

The Northern Echo is working with Durham County Council, the Trustees of the DLI and Durham University to raise £20,016 for a tribute to be installed in time for the Armistice Day commemorations in November.

Mr Langham said: “It is a great idea. I have been following this campaign since it came out.

“It very validly raises the point that it is the only Pals' battalion to not have a memorial on the Somme.

“The 18DLI is integral to Durham and the North-East as a whole in terms of the memory of the First World War.

“It is a shame that they are not remembered as well as the other guys are, so hopefully this will change that and raise awareness about them.”

* Anyone wishing to support the appeal should make cheques payable to Former Charities Of The Durham Light Infantry and send them to: The Rifles Durham Office, Elvet Waterside, Durham DH1 3BW.