Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)

Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own)
Cap Badge of the Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own)
Active	1881–1966
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Line infantry
Size	1-4 Regular battalions 1-2 Militia and Special Reserve 1-7 Territorial and Volunteer battalions
Garrison/HQ	Hounslow Barracks (1881–1905) Inglis Barracks, Mill Hill (1905–1966)
Nickname(s)	The Die Hards
Colors	Lemon Yellow Facings
Anniversaries	Albuhera Day (16 May).

The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1966. The regiment was formed, as the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment), in 1881 as part of the Childers Reforms when the 57th (West Middlesex) and 77th (East Middlesex) Regiments of Foot were amalgamated with the county's militia and rifle volunteer units.

On 31 December 1966 the Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) was amalgamated with the other regiments of the Home Counties Brigade, the Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment, the Queen's Own Buffs, The Royal Kent Regiment and the Royal Sussex Regiment to form the Queen's Regiment. The latter regiment was, however, short-lived and itself subject to a merger on 9 September 1992 with the Royal Hampshire Regiment to form the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires).

The Middlesex Regiment was one of the principal home counties based regiments with a long tradition. They inherited their nickname, the “Die-hards”, from the 57th Regiment of Foot (West Middlesex), which later became the 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. The 57th gained the name during the Peninsular War when, at the Battle of Albuera on 16 May 1811 their commander Colonel Inglis had his horse shot from under him, severely wounded and outnumbered by the French he called to his men “Die hard, 57th. Die hard!” "Albuhera" was the principal battle honour on the Middlesex Regiment's colours.