Raised in 1755 chiefly of Londoners from the Middlesex Militia, and
nicknamed the "Steelbacks," from being frequently flogged by the
provost. From their extraordinary fighting propensities at Albuhera,
they earned the more honourable and famous name of the "Die-Hards." In
this action, out of 25 officers, they had 22 killed and wounded; of 570
rank and file, killed and wounded 425. The King's colour was riddled
by thirty bullets; Inglis, the heroic colonel, cried out frequently:
"Die hard, my men, die hard," and from that day the gallant 57th
were recognised in camp and barrack as the "Die-Hards." At Inkerman
the officer commanding the 57th inspired his followers at a critical
moment by the thrilling words, "Die-hards, remember Albuhera." The 2nd
Battalion (77th Foot) was called "The Pot-hooks," from the figure 7,
and was one of the three regiments which stormed the breach at Ciudad
Rodrigo.
[Illustration: The Glorious Gallantry of the Regiment at Albuhera.]
[Illustration: The Manchester Regiment.