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

There is currently a problem with our image galleries. We are working to get them fixed. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Two slices of white bread


During their long years of imprisonment, men dreamt of escape and freedom. Most soldiers working 12 hours in a factory or in a mine were too tired to escape but many officers did attempt escape though very few succeeded in reaching Britain. Finally in 1945 all the DLI's prisoners of war were freed and returned home to rebuild their lives.

Richard Forbes

Richard Forbes
Richard Forbes' biography (PDF) [52KB]

Richard remembers an escape tunnel in a prisoner of war camp.

Richard Forbes' transcript (PDF) [42KB]


John Douglas

John Douglas' biography (PDF) [50KB]

John remembers being freed by American soldiers in 1945.

John Douglas' transcript (PDF) [31KB]


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