What does “57 Albuhera” on an old silver cigarette case refer to?
57th (Die-hards) The Middlesex Regiment. 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 dispatc
