Skip to content
  1. Do it online
  2. Login
  3. Have your say
  4. My Durham

Please note that our Modern.Gov system is currently unavailable - this affects all aspects of the democracy/committee section on our website, including Committee papers. We apologise for the inconvenience.

Across the Wadi


John Rodgers was told by a Sergeant on his first day at Brancepeth Castle - "You're leaving home and you're leaving your mother. From now on I'm going to be you mother and father and everything for the rest of your Army life". This was the unwelcome reality for thousands of young men who were called up and joined the Army during the Second World War.

Fred Welsh

Fred Welsh
Fred Welsh's biography (PDF) [50KB]

Fred remembers arriving at Brancepeth Castle in January 1940 and spending a cold night on the floor of a hall in Willington.

Fred Welsh's transcript (PDF) [34KB]


John Rodgers

John Rodgers' biography (PDF) [52KB]

John remembers arriving by train at Brancepeth in June 1940 and meeting his Platoon Sergeant for the first time.

John Rodgers' transcript (PDF) [33KB]


Richard Atkinson

Richard Atkinson
Richard Atkinson's biography (PDF) [52KB]

A trained Territorial soldier in Gateshead, remembers receiving his call-up papers in September 1939.

Richard Atkinson's transcript (PDF) [34KB]


Durham Light Infantry banner Durham Light Infantry banner - mobile version


Share this page

Share this page on Facebook Share this page on Facebook Share this page on Twitter Share this page on Twitter