The Middlesex Regiment 1755-1966

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"Ich Dien"
(a brief history)

STEADY THE DRUMS AND FIFES b y L a d y E l i z a b e t h B u t l e r
The drummer boys of the 57th (Die-hards) drawn up under
fire on the ridge of Albuera (16th May 1811)

Why "Die-Hards"?

The expression Die-Hard is now normally used in the English language to denote an individual or group of people who will not budge from a position or opinion once taken or expressed. Maybe the stand taken is not logically sound but the fact remains if the person refuses to retreat and holds out against all odds he is called a die-hard. This is the only regiment in the world whose nickname has become part of the language.
The term "Die-Hard" was coined in the smoke of war during the battle of Albuhera, fought on 16th May 1811 which was the bloodiest battle of the Peninsula War.
At this battle the 57th were out numbered four to one. The Commanding Officer of the 57th, Colonel Inglis, took his position in front of his "Fighting Villains", a term used by him when referring to his regiment and a term used by the illustrious Picton. When the fighting was at its heaviest he was struck down by a charge of grape shot in his neck and left breast. He refused to be carried to the rear for treatment, but lay in front of his men calling on them to hold their position and when the fight reached its fiercest cried, "Die hard the 57th, die hard!", and die hard they did. The casualties were 420 out of the 570 men in the ranks and 20 out of the 30 officers. Marshal Beresford wrote in his dispatch, "our dead, particularly the 57th Regiment, were lying as they fought in the ranks, every wound in front".
Even after this savage fight and such appalling casualties, the regiment were eager to advance with the remainder but Beresford called out, "Stop, stop the 57th, it would be a sin to let them go on!"
Later when the battlefield was viewed it was seen that the dead of the 57th were lying like a pack of cards that had toppled over.
Oman, the historian, said of the honour "ALBUHERA" "this, the most honourable of all Peninsular Blazons on a regimental flag......", but it was the soldiers of Wellington's army themselves that dubbed the regiment the "Die-Hards" after the exhortation of their Commanding Officer. This indeed is a compliment as the British soldier is wary when giving praise to fighting men.
 

Mediterranean

The 57th had begun its service as Marines with the Mediterranean fleet, its first casualty in action being Ensign William Townsend who was slain during the action with a French privateer

America
The 57th took part in the War of 1776-1781 and at the battle of Brandywine in 1777 the Light Company took part in the bayonet charge which accounted for 300 killed amd wounded and the capture of 100 prisoners. The Americans were so angered by this defeat that they threatened to grant no quarter to troops that had caused them so many casualties. In defiance to distinguish themselves from the other troops in the army the men of the "Light" dyed their plumes red. For many years, the 57th wore a red piece of cloth behind their badge to commemorate this action.
India

The 77th spent its first years in India fighting in the Mysore Wars, where the first two honours borne on the colours were won. At the siege and capture of Seringapatam in 1799, Tippoo Sahib, the Ferocious Rajah of Mysore was killed. Tippo called himself the "Tiger of Mysore" and had his guns cast with the tiger's head. One of which was captured by the regiment.

Peninsular

Both the 57th and 77th fought in the Peninsular war gaining eight honours between them. At this time the regiments were bearing the name of the county  i.e.  57th (West Middlesex) Regiment and 77th (East Middlesex) Regiment. The colonel of the  77th at this date was Sir Thomas Picton who was later killed at Waterloo.

Australia

Whilst commanding a garrison in Australia, Captain Patrick Logan of the 57th discovered the Logan River and explored great tracts of land. This was in 1826. There are still standing in Brisbane, buildings that were erected by this officer who was killed by the aborigines in 1830 whilst on an exploration expedition. Another officer, Major Edmund Lockyer claimed, for Britain, Western Australia, hoisting the Union Jack at King George Sound on January 21st, 1827. The Middlesex Regiment was as indefatigable in peace as it was courageous in war!

India

Both the 57th and 77th took part in the closing stages of the Indian Mutiny, although no battle honours were granted.

Crimea

The 77th were the first of the two regiments to land in the Crimea, taking part in the Battle of the Alma. The Governor of the Castle of Balaclava, surrendered the castle, and his sword, to Colonel Egerton of the 77th on 26th September 1854.
At the Battle of Inkerman, "The Soldiers Battle", both the 57th and the 77th took a prominent part, both being awarded the battle honour for this fight. Four Victoria Crosses were awarded to the regiment during this war
Pte. Alexander Wright  ,   Pte. Charles McCorrie (McCurry)  ,   Sgt. John Park  and  C/Sgt George Gardiner VC DCM  (mentioned in the next paragraph), and the honours "Alma", "Inkerman" and "Sevastopol" added to the Colours.
 

New Zealand

During the Maori War in New Zealand, Ensign Down and Drummer Stagpole won the Victoria Cross. Drummer Stagpole had a week earlier won the Distinguished Conduct Medal and holds the unparalleled record of winning the VC and DCM in one week. He is buried in Hendon Park Cemetery, North London. At this time also serving was C/Sgt George Gardiner VC DCM the first recipient of both these decorations.

Zululand

During the war in South Africa in 1879, the Colours of the regiment were carried in action for the last time. This was at the battle of Ginghilovo. Also captured during this campaign was the shield and assegais of Cetewayo the Zulu king. Cetewayo had been hunted by Lord Gifford VC who was then a captain in the 57th and this was part of the booty that was given to him.

The Middlesex Regiment

In 1881, the 57th and 77th, who had been linked since 1873, became the 1st and 2nd Battalions, The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment). This was the result of the British Army, adopting the Cardwell system so regiments could have one battalion abroad on foreign service in our then far flung empire and one battalion at home as a "feeding" unit to keep them supplied with men. The 77th had been granted the title 77th Duke of Cambridge's Own (East Middlesex) Regiment in 1876 and the Duke's cypher and coronet were included in the design of the new badge. The officers belt union bore the Arms of the County of Middlesex whilst the NCO's and soldiers wore the title "Middlesex" on their shoulder straps. The regiment was now firmly welded to the county.
When not on active service, the regiment was still to the fore. In the years 1878, 1879, 1880 the 77th were the best shooting regiment in the British Army. Courage was abundant too. A draft from the 1st Battalion in South Africa, on its way to join the 2nd Battalion in India, was on board the "WARREN HASTINGS" when it was wrecked on the island of Reunion in January 1897. A report said only "the remarkable courage and exemplary discipline displayed by the troops, under most trying circumstances" prevented a major disaster. Lord Wolesby said it was "a good example of the advantages of subordination and strict discipline" in his general orders to the Army. The Emperor William of Germany ordered that the narrative of their behaviour should be read out at the head of every unit in the German Army.

Sea Epics

This was not the only occaison the regiment has shown courage at sea. Within a life's span there is the transport "TYNDARIUS" which was mined off the Cape of Good Hope in January 1917 when the 25th Battalion under the command of Colonel John Ward were on board: the troopship "LANCASTRIA" which was bombed and sank at St Nazaire in 1940 and the Japanese ship "LISBON MARU" which was torpedoed and sunk in 1942 with the men of the 1st Battalion on board on their way to P.O.W. camps in Japan. In 1880 Pte, Brown won the Royal Humane Societies medal on the occaison of the shipwreck of the "ROBERT BROWN". The year 1867 saw the 57th on board the storm battered "ELECTRIC" on their way home from the Maori War when the sails were torn to shreds. An amusing record in the Regimental records reads "The bosun was thrown down the after skylight, bringing with him the lamp and a hencoop full of poultry, while volumes of water poured into every opening, extinguishing the lights and flooding the cabins and saloon". The "COMMERCE de MARSEILLES" in 1795 with the regiment on board with the Royal Artillery was so overloaded that it nearly floundered and had to put back to Portsmouth. She was so badly damaged as to be unfit to go to sea again.
Not only were the regiments on board damaged ships, they could also cause damage. In 1777 during the American War of Independence the 57th and Hessian Grenadiers took Philadelphia and the four battalion guns - each regiment had two brass field guns, worked by men of the unit - bought their pieces to bear on the "DELAWARE", the largest of the American frigates and made her strike her flag. Earlier as told above, the regiments first fatal casualty in action was at sea in 1756.
The regiment was the first regiment to sail through the Suez Canal in 1870, after it was opened. The troopship went aground. The Sergeant Major had all the regiment jump up and down together and so shook the vessel loose.

Pte. Albert Gimble of the 1st Battalion won that very rare award the Albert Medal in October 1915 for gallantry in saving life when the ammunition ship "MAINE" caught fire off  Boulogne and is the only man in the regiment to have been awarded this decoration.

Boer War

The 2nd Battalion, plus a number of companies of Mounted Infantry and Volunteer Companies, served in South Africa 1899-1902, adding two more honours to the Regimental Colours as well as adding to the list of decorations. The names of those who gave their lives can be read in the crypt of St. Pauls Cathedral, where above, on the North wall can be seen the Colours of the 57th and 77th which were carried in the Crimea, plus the memorial to those who fell in that war and the campaign in New Zealand.
Raised during the Boer War were two more regular battalions, the 3rd and 4th Battalions who were in existence until disbanded under the "Geddes Axe" of 1922.

Prince of Wales
                                 The Prince of Wales feathers

The same year, 1922, saw the Regiment honoured by the appointment of HRH The Prince of Wales as Colonel-in-Chief, a position he held until his abdication as King Edward VIII. When Prince Charles was born in November, 1948, The King's Guard consisted of officers and men of the regiment who at this time had taken over Public Duties from the Brigade of Guards.

World War I

During the war of 1914-1919, the regiment had 46 battalions as well as a number of "Works Companies" which were of Battalion strength. The 4th Battalion fired the opening shots of the first battle, at Mons 23rd august 1914. The first shot of the war had been fired the morning previously by Corporal Thomas of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards, but of the battle proper the first shots were exchanged with the Germans by the Die-Hards. The part played by the regiment can be seen at the cemetery at Saint Symphorien where lies the graves of twice as many Die-Hards as the regiment with the next highest casualties. Many more than twice their number lie in the German sector of the cemetery. After the battle a German General told the British Consul at Liege, "I had never dreamt of such magnificent bravery as that displayed by the Middlesex Regiment in the fighting of August 23-27th. The accuracy of their firing was a revelation. They hit here, (tapping his forehead), every time. Their coolness was wonderful and their trench work magnificent". Today in the cemetery can be seen the monument erected by the Germans, to "The Royal Middlesex Regiment." In the new district of Mons can also be seen the "Avenue of the 4th Middlesex Regiment." What other regiment can claim a memorial erected by each of their allies and their foe to their bravery?
During this war, five Victoria Crosses were won and 93 Battle honours granted to the regiment. The dying words of 2nd Lieut. Rupert Price Hallowes were "Men, we can die once: if we have to die, let us die like men - like Die-Hards." Many Die-Hards did that, too, as the 12694 names on the Roll of Honour for the years 1914-1919, show. the other recipients of the Victoria cross were A/Captain Alfred Maurice Toye  ,  A/Captain Alistair Malcolm Cluny McReady-Diarmid  ,  Pte. Frederick Jeremiah Edwards and Pte. Robert Edward Ryder.
Every battle front in this war saw at least one battalion of the regiment in action. As well as firing the first shots in the first battle, the regiment may well have fired the last shots in the last battle. When the Armistice came on November 11th 1918, the 2nd Battalion of the regiment were part of the 8th Division three and three-quarter miles fro Mons. It was here that the firing ceased.
The 1st Battalion was the first British regiment to land in France after the declaration of war in August 1914. They were accorded a tremendous welcome by the French.
The first guns captured from the Germans were these at Nery 1st September 1914 taken by "D" Coy 1st Bn who bought away the sights.
The first territory taken from the Germans was Lome, West Africa which surrendered to Captain Edward Baker, Middlesex Regiment.

Russia

There was more shooting to be done, even though the Armistice had been signed. An expeditionary force was sent to North Russia to aid the White Russians in their battle with the Bolshevik Forces. No. 1 Special Company, consisting of volunteers from the Die-Hards were a part of this force and were in action at Mumansk.
The Die-Hards badge had already been seen in Russia. The 25th Battalion raised and commanded by Colonel John Ward MP, had fought in Siberia from august 1918 when it fought at the Battle of Dukhovskaya on the Oussrie front finally ending it's duties at Omsk in 1919.

The East

Between the two world wars the regiment served overseas in Egypt, Palestine, Malaya, India, the Sudan and China, earning enviable reputations as sportsmen and ambassadors for Great Britain.

World War II

Seven battalions of the regiment fought in World War II gaining another 49 Battle Honours. The 1st Battalion fell to the Japanese at Hong Kong after excellent work with their machine guns and suffered years of torment in Japanese POW camps as well as loss of valuable lives at sea from the "LISBON MARU" which was torpedoed by and American submarine. Colonel Newnham who had won the Military Cross in the war of 1914-1919 was awarded a posthumous George Cross. He was executed by the enemy for refusing to give information when captured, thus saving the lives of many brother officers.
The 2nd Battalion who were in France in September 1939, was rushed into Belgium when the German invasion began in May 1940, and fought through until evacuated from Dunkirk.
They landed in Normandy on "D" Day, June 6th 1944, and took part in the great battle of Caen, the crossing of the Rhine, the advance into Germany. finishing up at Bremen. Holding high command during the Desert War and the Normandy landings was General Sir Brian Horrocks who had his baptism of fire with the regiment in fighting in 1940.
Middlesex battalions, or representative groups fought on every battle front during the years 1939-1945, taking part in the final victorious advance.

Post War activities

Both regular battalions were at Mill Hill in 1948 when on August 1st they were amalgamated as 1st Bn Middlesex Regt (57/77th). In September they went to Chelsea Barracks and took over Public Duties from the Brigade of Guards, finding their first duties at Buckingham Palace, St, James' Palace, Windsor Castle and the Tower of London on October 1st. Later, in 1949, they moved to Hong Kong and in August 1950 to Korea, being the first British troops to land where they took part in the heroic defence of the Pusan Bridgehead, eventually returning to Hong Kong. Not all those "Die-Hards returned, as a number were posted to the "Glorious Glosters" to make them up to strength. These men later fought at the Battle of Imgim and fully lived up to their traditions. An interesting account of the Die-Hards role in Korea can be foundHERE
In 1953, the battalion served in Austria where new colours were presented and after a short stay in England were sent to Cyprus where they had the arduous during the rebellion there. To Germany in 1958 where they were stationed until 1962. After one year in England they were sent to Gibraltar. They garrisoned "The Rock" until September 1965, returning to the United Kingdom in September, taking over the barracks at Holywood, near Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The Badges of the "Die-Hards"

The badges since the formation of the regular battalions were as follows:- From the formation of the respective regiments until 1816, the number 57 and 77 were shown in the head dress and buttons. In 1816 the 57th wore the number 57 within a wreath of laurels and the honour scroll "ALBUHERA", surmounted with a crown. The 77th wore the number 77 within a wreath of laurels and on the honour scroll, "PENINSULAR" surmounted by the Prince of Wales plume and motto "ICH DIEN". The two badges were combined in 1881 when the 57th and 77th became the 1st and 2nd Battalions Middlesex Regiment, adopting the badge now so well known. The cap badge of the Home Counties Brigade-the Saxon crown with military sword- was adopted by all the battalions of "The Queens Regiment" on October 14th, 1959, (the anniversary of the Battle of Hastings).

Conclusion: The Badge of the "Die-Hards"

As can be seen by this very brief  potted history of the "Die-Hards", the badge now superseded and so proudly worn by 46 battalions during World War I and a badge to be seen in every theatre of war of these years, and in many climes since, is one that has never been sullied. The wanderer can dig in the sands of the desert, crack the ice in the Arctic, turn a stone in the Italian Alps, help till the soil in France and Flanders, rest in the shade of an Italian village, toil over Greenland's icy mountains, rest awhile in Russian Riga, haul in a well in Hong Kong or disturb the sediment beneath the oceans and the China Seas. In each of these places he is likely to unearth in bronze, in brass or in silver this insignia of the "DIE-HARDS"