The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment),
COMPRISING
1st Batt. (formerly) The 57th (West Middlesex) Regiment of Foot.
2nd Batt. ( " ) The 77th (East Middlesex) Regiment of Foot; the 3rd and 4th Batts. are authorised; with Militia Batts.
5th Batt. The Royal Elthorne Militia.
6th Batt. The Royal East Middlesex Militia.
The Plume of the Prince of Wales. The Helmet Badge.
TITLES.
1st Batt.
1741-48. The 57th Regiment of Foot; renumbered The 46th.
1755-57. The 57th Regiment of Foot; renumbered The 55th.
1755-57. The 59th Regiment of Foot; renumbered The 57th.
1757-82. The 57th Regiment of Foot.
1782-1881, The 57th (West Middlesex) Regiment of Foot.
2nd Batt.
1756-63. The 77th (Montgomery Highlanders) Regiment; disbanded.
1775-83. The 77th (Atholl Highlanders) Regiment; disbanded.
1787-1807. The 77th Regiment of Foot.
1807-76. The 77th (East Middlesex) Regiment of Foot.
1876-81. The 77th (East Middlesex) (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Regiment of Foot.
1881 (from). The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment).
PRINCIPAL CAMPAIGNS, BATTLES, &c.
* "Honours" on the Colours, the figures showing the Battalion concerned.
1758-60. Canada.
1762. Havannah.
1776-82. America.
1776. Brooklyn.
1781. York Town.
1793-95. Flanders.
1793. Nieuport.
1793. Dunkirk.
1794. Nimeguen.
1790-1807. Hindoostan.
1796. St. Lucia.
*1799. Mysore (2).
*1799. Seringapatam (2).
*1809-1814. Peninsula (1 & 2).
1809. Flushing.
*1811. Albuera (2).
*1811. El-Bodon.
*1812. Ciudad Rodrigo (2).
*1812. Badajos (2).
*1813. Vittoria (1).
*1813. Pyrenees (1).
*1813. Nivelle (1).
*1813. Nive (1).
1814-15. Canada.
1814. Bayonne.
1819. Asseerghur.
1854. Balaclava.
*1854. Alma (1).
*1854. Inkerman (1 & 2).
*1855. Sevastopol (1 & 2).
1858. Indian Mutiny.
*1861-66. New Zealand (1).
*1879. South Africa (1).
1900. South Africa.
Uniform.—1st Batt., Scarlet (or Red) with Green facings (1755-67); Scarlet with Yellow facings (1767-1881); Scarlet with White facings (from 1881). 2nd Batt., Scarlet with Yellow facings (from 1787 to territorialisation, when White facings were adopted).
Regimental and other Badges.—"The Plume of the Prince of Wales" (the 77th badge). Also "The Duke of Cambridge's Cypher and Coronet." Amongst other badges not specified in official lists are (1) "A Laurel Wreath, with Albuera" (an old 57th badge for gallantry at that battle); (2) "The County Arms."
Nicknames.—"The Die-Hards," for stubborn valour at Albuera, by which the 57th practically insured victory; at the finish the Colours were riddled by thirty bullets, and the survivors numbered one officer in twenty-four, and 168 men out of 584. Colonel Inglis rallied his men again and again by "Die hard, my men, die hard!" The 57th had previously been known as "The Steelbacks," from the frequency with which its men, largely recruited by militiamen from London, were flogged. "The Pothooks" (the 77th), from the two sevens in its number.
Notes.—The 77th at El-Bodon was specially commended by Lord Wellington for "steadiness, discipline and confidence" when largely outnumbered.
Bibliography.—Historical Records of The 57th (or West Middlesex Regiment). 1755-1878. By General H. J. Warre, C.B. [London: Mitchell. 1878.]
Some Reminiscences of the "Die-Hards" (57th West Middlesex). By Sergeant-Major E. Bezar. [Dunedin: Dick & Co. 1891.]
A History of The 57th (West Middlesex Regiment) from 1755-1881. Including a record of the services of the "Die-Hards" in the American War of Independence, Flanders, the West Indies, the Peninsula, France, the Crimea, New Zealand, Zululand, etc. By Captain Henry H. Woolwright, Middlesex Regiment. With coloured plates and other illustrations and maps. Demy 8vo. 406 pp.