Tylden notes:
Originally formed on the 24th May, 1854, and gazetted as the DURBAN VOLUNTEER GUARD on the 27th January, 1855, with a strength of 120. The uniform was of blue serge, with grey trousers, "if available", a home-made peaked kepi with the initials in pewter, and the equipment Brown Bess percussion muskets with triangular bayonets, cross-belts and cartridge box and pouch. It is on record that the Regulars declined to parade with the D.V.G. on the Queen's Birthday in 1855. In the same year artillery and engineer companies were added . The latter did not last long, but the artillery became the DURBAN VOLUNTEER ARTILLERY in 1870. In 1859 the title was changed to the DURBAN RIFLE GuARD, who wore drab, corded black, with a black band to the kepi, black belts, and carried the Enfield. In 1862 grey kit was worn with red facings. In 1873 the name was changed to the ROYAL DURBAN RIFLES, and four years later khaki was adopted in the form of drill from India. In 1889 there was an amalgamation with the Maritzburg Rifles, the new title being the NATAL ROYAL RIFLES, and in 1895 this amalgamation ceased, and the corps became the DURBAN LIGHT INFANTRY. In 1911 the regiment wore grey with white facings and helmets in full dress; in the field khaki has always been worn. In 1935 the regiment became "Royal", and it is allied with the Rifle Brigade, and carries both King's and Regimental Colours. The flash is three horizontal stripes of blue, yellow and black, with a blue diamond set transversely on the yellow. The badge is a shield with the arms of Natal, two wildebeeste galloping from left to right, a crown above, and the motto, Primus in Africa. The undress cap badge is a silver bugle. In 1891 there was a Caledonian company with pipers, wearing a dark blue doublet with trews of Black Watch tartan; and in 1902 there was an M.I. company, disbanded in 1905. There is a band. The H.Q. is the Old Fort, held by a detachment of the Inniskilling Fusileers in 1842. In 1879 the War Office sent out uniforms for the Royal Durban Rifles, and during the Zulu War the regiment was employed on local defence. It served in the S.A. War of 1899, mainly on L. of C. Detachments, and saw fighting in armoured trains. It served throughout the Zulu Rebellion of 1906-7.
A roll for the Durban Light Infantry for the Boer War and the 1906 Rebellion can be found here.
![FitzgeraldM.jpg]()
Picture courtesy of DNW
QSA (3) Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (960 Dmr: M. Fitzgerald. Durban L.I.);
Natal 1906 (1) (Pte. M. Fitzgerald, Durban Light Infantry.)
Originally formed on the 24th May, 1854, and gazetted as the DURBAN VOLUNTEER GUARD on the 27th January, 1855, with a strength of 120. The uniform was of blue serge, with grey trousers, "if available", a home-made peaked kepi with the initials in pewter, and the equipment Brown Bess percussion muskets with triangular bayonets, cross-belts and cartridge box and pouch. It is on record that the Regulars declined to parade with the D.V.G. on the Queen's Birthday in 1855. In the same year artillery and engineer companies were added . The latter did not last long, but the artillery became the DURBAN VOLUNTEER ARTILLERY in 1870. In 1859 the title was changed to the DURBAN RIFLE GuARD, who wore drab, corded black, with a black band to the kepi, black belts, and carried the Enfield. In 1862 grey kit was worn with red facings. In 1873 the name was changed to the ROYAL DURBAN RIFLES, and four years later khaki was adopted in the form of drill from India. In 1889 there was an amalgamation with the Maritzburg Rifles, the new title being the NATAL ROYAL RIFLES, and in 1895 this amalgamation ceased, and the corps became the DURBAN LIGHT INFANTRY. In 1911 the regiment wore grey with white facings and helmets in full dress; in the field khaki has always been worn. In 1935 the regiment became "Royal", and it is allied with the Rifle Brigade, and carries both King's and Regimental Colours. The flash is three horizontal stripes of blue, yellow and black, with a blue diamond set transversely on the yellow. The badge is a shield with the arms of Natal, two wildebeeste galloping from left to right, a crown above, and the motto, Primus in Africa. The undress cap badge is a silver bugle. In 1891 there was a Caledonian company with pipers, wearing a dark blue doublet with trews of Black Watch tartan; and in 1902 there was an M.I. company, disbanded in 1905. There is a band. The H.Q. is the Old Fort, held by a detachment of the Inniskilling Fusileers in 1842. In 1879 the War Office sent out uniforms for the Royal Durban Rifles, and during the Zulu War the regiment was employed on local defence. It served in the S.A. War of 1899, mainly on L. of C. Detachments, and saw fighting in armoured trains. It served throughout the Zulu Rebellion of 1906-7.
A roll for the Durban Light Infantry for the Boer War and the 1906 Rebellion can be found here.
Picture courtesy of DNW
QSA (3) Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (960 Dmr: M. Fitzgerald. Durban L.I.);
Natal 1906 (1) (Pte. M. Fitzgerald, Durban Light Infantry.)