Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Mrs C. H. Durham of 22, New Street, Oakham, Rutland. Prior to the war he was employed as a clerk with the Midland Railway Engineers Office at Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. After enlistment he was involved in the Irish Rebellion of 1915, he then embarked for France on the 25th February 1917, taking part in the advances on the Somme at that period, and later moving to take part in the Ypres offensive in August. The fighting at that time was the worst the Leicestershire’s had taken part in. The bombardment being terrible, with over 3,000 guns firing continuously by day and night. The battle was eventually won with the regiment taking all their objectives, but at a very heavy loss, with only 160 men coming out from an original strength of 700. On the 30th September he was marching with the rest of the regiment, after being relieved when several shells dropped among them, a number of men were killed and wounded, Private Durham being killed outright, he was buried in a cemetery at St Jean, beyond Ypres. The War Diary entry for the 26th September 1917 records. ELM TREE CORNER. 2.00am. Battalion HQ established forward for the attack at ELM TREE CORNER D.20A.05.60. 3.50am. Bombardment started. 5.50am. ZERO hour, the Battalion went over to capture all enemy positions on HILL 37 sheet 28.NE1, D.20A.45.80, A and B Companies in front line each two platoons in front line, 1 platoon in support, D Company in support. 2nd Lt. BOWIE killed, Captain O. H. FIELDEN wounded, 2nd Lt. F. D. FARLEY wounded. Platoons kept within 100 yards of barrage and in some cases closer, general tendency was to get too close to barrage. Hostile strong point caused little difficulty as leading waves were close under barrage. 6.50am. All objectives taken. Lt. Col. G. B. G. WOOD wounded, 2nd Lt. L. ROWBATHAN wounded. Bombardment of both sides continued during whole day. Battalion HQ established in Pill Box on HILL 37, D.20A.65.85. 4.00pm. Enemy counter attack beaten back, Captain W. H. OLIVER, Lt. C. H. L. WYNNE wounded. Lt. Col. G. GERMAN took command of the Battalion. Battalion HQ moved to Pill Box D.20A.7.8. Artillery very active on both sides during night of September 26th/27th.
The War Diary for the 27th September 1917 records. HILL 37. Artillery on both sides very active during the day, Battalion relieved part of 2nd/5th LINCOLNSHIRE REGT. and part of the 2nd/5th SHERWOOD FORESTERS in the front line.