The Army number sequence beginning 4464400 would seem to be assigned to the first draft of civilian recruits called up to to the newly formed 16 DLI at Edinburgh in July 1940. In this listing I have attempted to integrate all known fatal casualties, prisoners of war and gallantry award holders into one integrated listing, regardless of the eventual units in which in they served. These are the men who have left the most prominent marks in history. If you have a relative with an Army number within this sequence, even if he isn’t listed here, by placing his number within this sequence, you can see instantly the fates of some of those who were there and thereabouts with him on the day his DLI Army number was issued in 1940. Aside from confirmed Commonwealth War Graves Commission fatal casualties, this is not a complete list. Any and all further names, numbers and details, however small, are most welcome.
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The NCOs training the new 16 DLI recruits were predominantly from the Bedfordshire and Herfordshire Regiment and had numbers in the 594-595 range. DLI soldiers trained previously and on the training staff at Edinburgh would obviously have lower numbers than 4464400. Many latter reinforcements to the Battalion also had earlier, lower numbers and many of course, were originally enlisted in other regiments had numbers outside the 445, 446 and 447 series.
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This sequence beginning 4464400 is important in that many of these men formed the backbone of the 16th Battalion which was virtually destroyed at Sedjenane in February-March 1943. Almost like a World War One 'Pals' Battalion these men trained together and knew each other for almost three years before finally going into action. Not all would have been 16th DLI, the 14th and 17th Battalions were formed at the same time, but from the information listed, it is obvious how many were with the 16th Battalion from the start.
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Wilkinson, Tpr Fred, 4464400. Died 13/4/45, serving with the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, aged 25. Son of Frederick and Emily J Wilkinson, of Haughton-le-Skerne, Darlington, Co Durham. Becklingen War Cemetery, Germany, 2 H 1.
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Robinson, Pte William Tweddell, 4464408. Died 25/2/45, serving with 2nd Bn Border Regiment, aged 23. Son of Richard Robinson, DCM, and Edith Robinson, of Grangetown, Sunderland, Co Durham. Taukkyan War Cemetery, Burma, 19 J 2.
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Thompson, Pte John William, 4464416. Died 2/11/42, serving with 9 DLI, aged 22. Son of William French Thompson and Barbara Thompson; husband of Mary Ann Thompson, of Sunnybrow, Co Durham. El Alamein War Cemetery, XXIII F 24. Dod 22/11/42 on DCL; 11/42 on 1947 Army Roll.
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Brook, L/Cpl Frank, 4464425. Died 14/11/42, serving with the Durham Light Infantry 'attached HQ, 10 Corps.' No CWGC age or Next of Kin details. Born Bradford, enlisted Yorkshire. DoD '1942' according to 1947 Army Roll. Alamein Memorial, Column 67.
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Keay, Cpl J, 4464426. Mentioned in Despatches for service with Army Catering Corps. LG 19/7/45:
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https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37184/supplement/3741/data.pdf
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Everest, L/Cpl John Edward William, 4464438. Died between 3/10/43 and 4/10/43, serving with 1 DLI, aged 23. Son of Christopher John and Caroline Esther Everest, of Thorpe, Egham, Surrey. Athens Memorial, Face 7.
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Hearn, Cpl R H, 4464444. Menioned in Despatches for services with the Pioneer Corps. LG 13/1/44:
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https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36327/page/257
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Murphy, Pte Denis Jarlath, 4464450. Died 6/11/41, serving with 4th Bn Border Regiment, aged 22. Son of John and Annie Murphy, of Caherskeehane, Co Galway, Irish Republic. Tobruk War Cemetery, 6 Q 3.
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Saban, Pte Douglas Henry, MM, 4464458. Died 14/6/44, serving with 6 DLI, aged 28. Son of Alfred M and Florence S Saban, of Walthamstow, Essex. Bayeux War Cemetery, XV J 10.
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Awarded Military Medal for actions with 6 DLI in Sicily. LG 21/10/43:
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http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36217/supplements/4663
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http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7348801
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Smith, Sgt S, 4464464. Mentioned in Despatches for services with the Royal Armoured Corps in NW Europe. LG 4/10/46
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https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37521/supplement/1674
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Ashby, Pte C W, 4464474, DLI. Stalag 317, POW No 39552. Previously held Italy.
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Bell, Pte G W, 4464485. Originally enlisted DLI. Captured with 1st Bn Tyneside Scotish, Bk Watch. Stalag 8C, POW No 81270.
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Bradley, Pte E, 4464486, Stalag 4D, POW No 263090.
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