THE history of the DLI began in 1758, when General John Lambton of County Durham first raised the 68th Regiment of Foot as part of the British Army.

It saw action with Wellington in the Peninsula War when it won its first battle honours.

Later, the Regiment fought in the Crimean War and in New Zealand. During these campaigns, three Durhams were awarded the Victoria Cross - John Byrne, Thomas de Courcy Hamilton and John Murray.

In 1881, The Durham Light Infantry was formed and was soon in action in Egypt and in South Africa.

During the First World War, thousands of volunteers joined. By 1918, the Durhams had raised 43 battalions. Some 13,000 Durhams died on various battlefields, with thousands more wounded, gassed or taken prisoner. Six were awarded the Victoria Cross during the Great War.

During the Second World War, nine battalions of the DLI fought with distinction in every major battle of the war.

After 1945, the DLI was reduced in size until only the 1st Battalion DLI remained.

In 1952-53, 1 DLI fought as part of the United Nations forces in Korea. It later served in Cyprus and was based in Berlin in 1961.

In 1966, the Durhams fought their last campaign and suffered their last casualties in the jungles and mountains of Borneo.

In 1968, while the battalion was serving in Cyprus, it was announced that DLI would join three other county light infantry regiments to form the Light Infantry.