Originally written in 1985 for The Whisky Priests and recorded for the band's debut album 'Nee Gud Luck in 1989, this new version features revised lyrics and a full brass band arrangement.

Lyrics and further information : - HERE

The backing track, performed by Ferryhill Town Band was recorded live at Mainsforth and District Institute, Ferryhill, on 28th November 2017. Gary added lead vocals at Awake Music! Studio, Spittal, on 30th November. The sessions were engineered and produced by Gary's regular producer Iain Petrie.

'The Durham Light Infantry' was originally released as the first advance CD and Download Single from 'From Coalfiled to Battlefield' and later as part of the 'DLI EP'.

This details the tragic story of Joseph William Stones, a previously-decorated DLI soldier from Crook who was executed in WW1 for alleged cowardice.

Lyrics and further information : - HERE

The song, featuring Gary solo on vocal and acoustic guitar, was recorded live at Awake Music! Studio, Spittal, in October 2017. The session was engineered and produced by Gary's regular producer Iain Petrie.

'Ballad of Lance-Sergeant William Stones' was originally released as the second advance Download Single from 'From Coalfiled to Battlefield' and later as part of the 'DLI EP'.

A personal tale, telling the fascinating true story of Gary’s great-uncles Joseph (Joe) and George Mains, Colliery Bandsmen as well as DLI Bandsman during WW2.

Lyrics and further information : - HERE

The song was recorded at Awake Music! Studio, Spittal, in October 2017. The session was engineered and produced by Gary's regular producer Iain Petrie.

'Euphonium and Cornet' was originally released as the third advance Download Single taken from 'From Coalfiled to Battlefield' and later as part of the 'DLI EP'.

The song was recorded at Awake Music! Studio, Spittal, in October 2017. The session was engineered and produced by Gary's regular producer Iain Petrie.

'The Final Lettter of Jimmy Durham' was originally released as the fourth advance Download Single taken from 'From Coalfiled to Battlefield' and later as part of the 'DLI EP'.

The true story of drummer-boy Robert Robinson who became Florence Nightingale's errand boy, and later protege, during the Crimean War.

Lyrics and further information : - HERE

The true story of John Green, a Private in the 68th through Wellington's Penninsula Campaign during the Napoleonic Wars, whose memoirs The Vicissitudes of a Soldier's Life describe his experiences with the regimant throughout the campaign.

The true story of Whisky Priests bass player Michael Stephenson's grandparents, Rita and James Stephenson, who first met and fell in love at Swiss-Italian girl Rita's parents' restaurant in Lachen in German-speaking Switzerland, after James, a veteran of the North African campaign with the Durham Light Infantry, escapsed from an Italain Prisoner of War camp and made his way over the Alps into Switzerland.

'When the Bugle Calls' was a year-long touring exhibition, featuring sounds and objects from the DLI Collection, starting at Bishop Auckland Town Hall in December 2017. After 4 months there, the exhibition went on to visit several other venues throughout different parts of the County Durham region.

Telling the story of the Music of the Durham Light Infantry, a section of the exhibtion was devoted to The Whisky Priests alongside Gary and Helen's own contributions to the project. Furthermore, recordings of two of Gary's songs, 'The Durham Light Infantry' (featuring Ferryhill Town Band) and 'Euphonium and Cornet', were chosen to be included on listening posts at the exhibition.

The launch event for 'When the Bugle Calls' was held at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on 5th December 2017. Accompanied by Mick Tyas on bouzouki and backing vocals, Iain Petrie on bass and backing vocals and Jake Lucas on drums, Gary performed the four songs he had written for the project to date, as well as a fifth song, 'The Boys of Durham' (a pub song written by a soldier of the DLI during World War 1) featuring Mick on lead vocals, to an invited audience of V.I.P. guests. Two members of Ferryhill Town Band, Steven King (euphonium) and Andrew Potts (cornet) also joined Gary on stage for 'Euphonium and Cornet'.

"Thank you very much for your contribution and the work of Helen, Iain and the rest of the team. The performance was fantastic and we were very pleased to include your story in our exhibition and document your story as part of our DLI history." (Gillian Kirkbride, Museums, Heritage and Collections Manager - Growing and Learning)