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Auction: 7029 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 479

The Die Hards at Albuera A view of the 57th (West Middlesex) Regiment at Albuera, sustaining heavy losses as a result of the enemy attack in ´one of the fiercest battles on human record´, being encouraged on by their Commanding Officer, Colonel Inglis, signed R. Simkin, 320mm x 210mm, watercolour, mounted, with the inscription ´The 57th. West Middlesex Regiment, Albuera, 16th. May 1811, "Die Hard, My Men, Die Hard"´ in a glazed frame Estimate £ 300-500 The 57th Foot at Albuera The 57th (West Middlesex) Regiment gained the sobriquet "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, my men, die hard!" Of a total of 24 Officers and 570 privates, only one officer remained standing, and over 400 privates had fallen. Lieutenant-General Beresford wrote in his dispatch, ´our dead, particularly the 57th Regiment, were lying as they fought in the ranks, every wound in front´. Richard Simkin (1840-1926) was a prolific military painter who worked in Aldershot. As well as many watercolours of uniforms and military occasions, he painted recruiting posters and illustrations for the Army and Navy Gazette. Examples of his work can be found in the India Office Library and the National Army Museum.

Sold for
£400