IN one corner of Durham Market Place stood a larger-than-life bronze of a Durham Light Infantry bugler, his face downcast, symbolising the moment a platoon of 1 DLI buglers sounded the ceasefire in Korea in 1953.

In another, stood a real life bugler, sounding the Last Post, flanked by DLI Association standard bearers, their flags laid low against the streaming-wet paving, symbolising a declaration of no ceasefire, no surrender.

“We fight on,” shouted Save the DLI Museum campaigner Bert Moncur, whose rallying cry had brought around 150 supporters to the medieval Market Place on a wet, wintry Sunday night.

Leaders claim 25,500 people have now backed their campaign to save the 50-year-old DLI Museum at Aykley Heads, Durham City – in defiance of the decision by Durham County Council’s cabinet to close the facility from April, taken last month (October).

Tonight's (Sunday) gathering, organised in just a few days, began with a rousing speech from Bert, who was followed by a padre, who spoke passionately in support of the museum and led the crowd in prayer and singing the hymn Abide with Me.

Just before proceedings began, the heavens opened. A few ran for cover. But most, perhaps with the bravery of their forebears in mind, stood unmoved, their green-tinged torches competing with Durham’s Christmas Tree lights for dominance of the darkness overhead.

The Last Post and lowering of the standards signalled the commencement of a minute’s silence.

To finish, Bert urged those present to chat, build on their friendships “forged in disaster” and each do their bit to save the museum.

A proud grandmother pushed forward to the microphone five-year-old Leah Knevitt, of Easington Colliery.

“What do you want to happen?” Bert asked.

“I want it to stay open,” Leah responded, to the biggest cheer of the night.

“It’s one of the greatest things you can take your children to,” Bert reflected on the museum in question.

“It’s not about glorifying war. It’s about glorifying those that died to save us all. Without them, we wouldn’t have freedom of speech.”

Organisers may have been slightly disappointed by the turnout, but Bert insisted: “Whether it was one or 10,000, the message is the same – we won’t go without a fight.”

The council says the museum, which attracts 39,000 visitors a year, is heavily subsidised, expensive to maintain and needs investment. It says moving the DLI collection, which includes uniforms, firearms, medals and more dating from 1758 to 2011, to a specialist facility in Spennymoor would allow it to store it safely and its planned programme of long-term and temporary exhibitions, including at Palace Green Library, will make the treasures accessible to many more people and allow more of the regiment’s stories to be told.

Campaigners disagree. They fear the collection – which they see as theirs – will be split up and locked away. There is also anger over the fate of DLI veterans' ashes scattered at the current site.

The council’s cabinet has already voted for closure. But further talks are planned. Levels of optimism among the museum's supporters vary.

In determining whether history records tonight (Sunday) as the DLI Museum’s last stand or the starting point in a surprising counter-offensive, the next few weeks will be crucial.