View source for 41st National Defence Company/13th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry

''As will be noted from the War Diary of the 70th Brigade HQ, the men of the National Defence Company were the first of the local units to be mobilised, even before the Territorial Battalions of the Durham Light Infantry, and were initially headquartered with 70th Infantry Brigade and, effectively, came under the command of the Brigade.''

''These men were older former servicemen - generally over 45 years of age - and were employed in guarding vulnerable points.''

''To read an article summarising their status and background please click'' [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Defence_Companies here].

''The 13th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry, a Home Defence Battalion, was formed from the Durham Group (No. 41) National Defence Company in December 1939. The War Diary for the Battalion for 1939 and for the part of 1940 it was associated with 70th Infantry Brigade is set out below.  It was divided into the 1/13th and 2/13th (Home Defence) Battalions in September 1940. The 2/13th Battalion was renamed as the 18th Battalion in March 1941. The 1/13th Battalion merged with the 18th Battalion to form the 30th Battalion in November 1941.''

A link is made to the Wikipedia page which describes the National Defence Company/Home Guard scenerio during World War 2 and this can be accessed [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durham_Light_Infantry#Home_Front_1939%E2%80%9345 here].

''Thanks to the co-operation of the staff at the Durham Record Office access was gained to the DLI Regimental Newsletter, formerly of a classified status, and the January 1943 issue described the disbandment of the 30th Battalion DLI, drawing attention to the fact that it had originally been 41st NDC, with an average age of around 48 and a Medical Category around "C".  At the time of the 30th Battalion's disbandment the average age had reduced to 27 and some 80% of the personnel were graded A1.  The Battalion had been re-classified from a Home Defence Unit to an A1 Counter-Attack Battalion and therefore the news that they, and some 20 similar units, were being disbanded was a sad blow.  Personnel were not, as expected, moved to other Infantry Units but, as requirements had altered, were transferred to some 50 different units - ranging from Anti-Aircraft to Royal Corps of Signals.''

''At the time of disbandment only one Officer from the 41st NDC list below was serving with 30th Battalion - namely Lt Col Boys-Stones - Commanding Officer.'' 

''In researching the contents of the McGregor Card Index of DLI Officers, held at the Durham County Record Office, cards were traced of those Officers who had been members of the 41st (Durham) Group, National Defence Company at the time they were under the command of 70th Brigade, and therefore they have been listed here in the same format as their younger colleagues in the second-line Infantry Battalions of the Brigade.''

''Work will continue to try and identify the "other ranks" of 41st NDC and 13th DLI.''

'''War Diary'''

'''[[War Diary of the 13th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry, 1939.]]'''

'''[[War Diary of the 13th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry, 1940.]]'''

'''Personnel of 41st (Durham) National Defence Company/13th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry.'''

[[Addison Arthur Private D/12058]] <br>
[[Archer E W Lieutenant]] <br>
[[Bates Isaiah Private D/10579]] <br>
[[Boys-Stones Richard Major 51695]] <br>
[[Cantwell Lawrence Private D/31298]] <br>
[[Coleby Lieutenant]] <br>
[[Crowther Francis Alfred Alderson Private 4454535]] <br>
[[Finburg David Morris Private D/13195]] <br>
[[Gideon Lieutenant]] <br>
[[Giles A J Lieutenant]] <br>
[[Grieves Norman Private D/12057]] <br>
[[Hayes James William Private D/6180]] <br>
[[Henderson Martin Warrant Officer 4440243]] <br>
[[Hester Ernest William Captain 178592]] <br>
[[Hobson J F Captain]] <br>
[[Hodgson J C 2/Lieutenant]] <br>
[[Hudspeth Redforth Corporal D/4407]] <br>
[[Jacques W E Lieutenant]] <br>
[[Kitchingman A Lieutenant]] <br>
[[Kraft Paul Warrant Officer D/3705]] <br>
[[Lack Robert Henry Private D/30957]] <br>
[[Madgin James Pearson 2/Lt 102096]] <br>
[[Mauchley Captain]] <br>
[[McLachlan Thomas Lt 96226]] <br>
[[Milburn George Robert Pte 4444858]] <br>
[[Moore G E Lieutenant]] <br>
[[Morton Smith  R Captain]] <br>
[[Newton Edward 2/Lt 106396]] <br>
[[Palmer W F 2/Lieutenant]] <br>
[[Perkins W G Lieutenant]] <br>
[[Potts Wardill Lt ]] <br>
[[Ramsden Edward Captain 59106]] <br>
[[Ramsden R Captain]] <br>
[[Reed Charles Lt 98144]] <br>
[[Ripley Edgar William Frederick Lt]] <br>
[[Robinson Lieutenant]] <br>
[[Sewell Lieutenant]] <br>
[[Shougnell G K Lieutenant]] <br>
[[Sinclair B Lieutenant]] <br>
[[Smith Charles Sandeman Lt 99053]] <br>
[[Smith Frank Martin 2/Lt 107161]] <br>
[[Smith John Private D/35983]] <br>
[[Sowerby Godfrey Laird Lt 93493]] <br>
[[Stafford John Edward Lt Col]] <br>
[[Taylor Arthur Bertram Lance Corporal D/36156]] <br>
[[Thomas John Sergeant]] <br>
[[Thomson Robert Lt 23929]] <br>
[[Tully James Stephenson Lt 50692]] <br>
[[Turvey Frederick Lt 96931]] <br> 
[[Warwick S W Lieutenant]] <br>
[[Watson Thomas Private D/15572]] <br>
[[Wilby Ronald John Major 79246]] <br>
[[Williams B M Captain]] <br>
[[Wilson Lancelot Dowson Private D/12591]] <br>
[[Yeo A J Lieutenant]] <br>
[[Young Thomas Lt 7167]] <br>