Lieutenant-Colonel William Inglis (1764-1835)
Inglis' Army Gold Cross. NAM 1965-02-162
'Nothing could exceed the conduct and gallantry of Colonel Inglis at the head of his regiment.' - Marshal William Carr Beresford
At the Battle of Albuera in 1811, during the Peninsular War, the 57th (West Middlesex) Regiment was under intense pressure from a French attack. Its commander, Lieutenant-Colonel William Inglis, was hit by canister shot which pierced his left breast and lodged in his back. Despite his wound, Inglis stayed with the Regimental Colour, encouraging his men with the words ‘Die hard 57th, die hard’.
Regimental Colour, 57th Regiment, 1803-13. NAM 1965-02-165
An infantry regiment normally had two Colours, or flags. They served not only as a rallying point in battle, but also as the focus of regimental pride. To lose a Colour to the enemy was the greatest disgrace a regiment could suffer. Soldiers defended the Colours with their lives.
This Colour was hit by 21 shots and had its staff broken by enemy fire. ‘The Die Hards’ subsequently became the West Middlesex’s regimental nickname. ‘Die-hard’ is an expression still used today, and was even used as the title of a series of films in the 1980s and 90s.
