The Dukes are the oldest group in the Association, having been formed in the early 2010s by three friends from the Craven area of West Yorkshire in order to pay homage to their local regiment, the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment. Primarily focusing on 1/6 Battalion, a Territorial formation that recruited from the Keighley and Skipton areas of the West Riding, this naturally saw them expand to portray men of 1/7 Battalion (Colne Valley, Huddersfield) given that both formations were part of the same brigade. It also allowed the DAW the opportunity to continue to tell the tale of the Regiment beyond the Normandy Campaign, given the very sad fate that befell 1/6 Dukes and saw them forcibly amalgamated with their sister battalion of 1/7. 

From small beginnings, and attachment to another group in order to boost their experience in the WW2 living history arena, the DAW have expanded their ranks from three riflemen to a cadre of members who can easily portray a rifle section, a platoon 'O' group, a PIAT team, or battalion snipers. The Group are primarily focused on portraying the two battalions of the 49th Division, however they also look to honour the whole regiment with a range of portrayals including:

• 1st Battalion during the France and Flanders Campaign, 1940
• 1st Battalion during the Tunisia Campaign, the landing at Pantelleria, Anzio, and the Gothic Line
• 2nd Battalion during the Burma Campaign
• 5th Battalion (43rd Searchlight Regiment) on home defence duties