57th (West Middlesex) Regiment of Foot
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| 57th (West Middlesex) Regiment of Foot | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1755 to 1881. |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Line Infantry |
| Role | Light Infantry |
| Size | One battalion |
| Nickname | "The Die Hards". |
| Colors | Yellow Facings, Gold Braided Lace |
| March | Quick: Slow: |
| Battles/wars | Albuhera, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Peninsula, Inkerman, Sevastopol, New Zealand |
The 57th (West Middlesex) Regiment of Foot was a line Regiment in the British Army.
[edit] History
The regiment started out as the 59th Regiment of Foot raised in Gloucester in 1755 After the disbandment of the 50th Regiment of Foot and the 51st Regiment of Foot in 1756 it became the 57th Regiment of Foot. In 1782 it was given a county connection becoming the "57th (the West Middlesex) Regiment of Foot".
The 57th Regiment earned their nickname of "the Die Hards" after their participation in the Battle of Albuera, the bloodiest battle of the Peninsular War, fought on the 16 May 1811. The Commanding Officer of the 57th, Colonel Inglis, was struck down by a charge of grapeshot which hit him in the 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!". The casualties of the 57th were 420 out of the 570 men in the ranks and 20 out of the 30 officers. The Allied commander of the Anglo-Portugese force Field Marshal Beresford wrote in his dispatch, "our dead, particularly the 57th Regiment, were lying as they fought in the ranks, every wound in front".
The 57th arrived in New South Wales during 1826 serving at Van Diemens Land, Sydney, Victoria South Australia and the Swan River colony. The Regiment was transferred to Madras in March, 1831.
In 1881 it was united with the 77th (East Middlesex) Regiment of Foot to form The Middlesex Regiment.
[edit] Colonels
- 1755.12.27 Col. John Arabin
- 1757.03.22 Lt-Gen. Sir David Cunynghame, Bt.
- 1767.11.04 Gen. Sir John Irwin, KB
- 1780.11.02 Gen. John Campbell (of Strachur)
- 1806.09.08 Gen. John (Hely-Hutchinson), 2nd Earl of Donoughmore, GCB [also 18th Foot, 74th Hldrs, 94th Foot]
- 1811.04.27 Gen. Sir Hew Whiteford Dalrymple, Bt.
- 1830.04.10 Lt-Gen. Sir William Inglis, KCB
- 1835.12.04 Gen. Sir Frederick Adam, GCB, GCMG [also 21st Foot, 73rd Foot; Gov. Madras 1832-37]
- 1843.05.31 F.M. Sir Henry (Hardinge), 1st Viscount Hardinge, GCB
- 1856.09.24 Gen. Sir James Frederick Love, GCB, KH
- 1865.09.05 Gen. Charles Richard Fox
- 1873.04.14 Gen. Freeman Murray
- 1875.12.11 Gen. Sir Edward Alan Holdich, GCB
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