Sunderland Rifles
| Sunderland Rifles 3rd (Sunderland) VB, Durham Light Infantry 7th Bn Durham Light Infantry 47th (DLI) Searchlight Regiment, RA 112th (DLI) Light AA Regiment, RA 582 (DLI) LAA/SL Regiment, RA 463 (7DLI) LAA/SL Regiment, RA County of Durham Regiment, RA | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1860–1975 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Territorial Army |
| Role | Infantry Pioneers Air Defence |
| Part of | Durham Light Infantry Brigade 50th (Northumbrian) Division 43 AA Brigade XII Corps |
| Garrison/HQ | Sunderland |
| Nickname(s) | Vaux's Own |
| Engagements | Second Boer War World War I: |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Col Ernest Vaux |
The Sunderland Rifles was a Volunteer unit of the British Army formed in 1860. It went on to become a Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) in the Territorial Force and saw action as infantry and pioneers in some of the bloodiest actions on the Western Front during World War I. Between the wars it became an air defence unit, serving during World War II in The Blitz and the campaign in North West Europe, when it had a special role in the Rhine crossing. Postwar it continued in the Territorial Army in the air defence role until 1975, when its successor unit reverted to infantry.