Outline History of The Middlesex Regiment
(Duke of Cambridge's Own)

Written by:
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Roger Gancz
Late of The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own), The Queen's Regiment and The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment
Major (Retired) Brian Finch MCIL
Late of the The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) and The Queen's Regiment

The 57th of Foot drawn up on the ridge above La Albuera where they earned their name the

Early History

The 57th of Foot was raised in 1755 and saw service in many parts of the world including the Seven Years War and the American War of Independence. It adopted the county designation of the 57th (the West Middlesex) Regiment of Foot in 1782.

Albuhera

On 16 May 1811 the Regiment took part in the bloodiest battle of the Peninsular War, the Battle of Albuhera. Drawn up on a ridge above the Spanish town of La Albuhera, they faced an onslaught of advancing French infantry engaging in an exchange of musket fire for some four hours. They suffered 60 percent casualties in this battle but refused to withdraw. Urged on by their Commanding Officer, Lt Col William Inglis to "Die hard, my men, die hard", they were praised by the Commanding General for their courage and earned the immortal name "The Diehards". They also earned the unique privilege of having the battle honour "Albuhera" on their cap badge. Every year since then the officers and senior NCOs of The Middlesex Regiment have gathered on 16 May to commemorate the sacrifice of those who died at Albuhera and to drink a silent toast to "The Immortal Memory". This tradition continued even in the prisoner-of war-camp in Kobe during the Second World War and is still carried on to this day by the Regiment's successors, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.

The 57th of Foot drawn up on the ridge above La Albuera Painting by Lady ButlerM

Amalgamations

In 1881 the 57th amalgamated with the 77th (East Middlesex) Regiment of Foot to become The Duke of Cambridge's Own Middlesex Regiment. In 1921 the name was reversed to The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own), which remained until the Regiment amalgamated with other regiments from the Home Counties to form The Queen's Regiment. The 1st Battalion The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) became the 4th Battalion The Queen's Regiment (Middlesex). Following further defence cuts the 4th Battalion disbanded and its members transferred to the other three battalions, when all the former county names in The Queen's Regiment battalions were dropped. In 1992 The Queen's Regiment amalgamated with The Royal Hampshires to form The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.

First World War

The Middlesex Regiment raised 46 battalions during the First World War variously serving in many parts of the world with distinction. The Regiment suffered a total of 12,694 killed during the First World War.

Between the Wars

The 1st Battalion was in Rhine in 1922, moving to the UK in 1923, with postings in Aldershot, Catterick and Colchester. They moved to Palestine in 1931, Egypt in 1933, Singapore in 1936 and Hong Kong in 1937.

Hong Kong

For the first few years of the posting in Hong Kong, the Battalion enjoyed the life of a peacetime garrison battalion. They of course trained for the possibility of war, although to most in Hong Kong, including the military establishment, this seemed an unlikely prospect up to the time of the surprise attack by the Japanese on 8 December 1941. They were a machine-gun battalion and trained effectively with the Vickers machine-guns, which were invaluable in the battle which was to follow.

In 1940 Lieutenant Colonel Moncrief ("Monkey") Stewart became the Commanding Officer. He was a fine soldier in the old tradition. He had won a Military Cross for action in the First World War and was awarded a posthumous Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in 1946. He was an inspirational leader, greatly admired by his men and was an efficient and effective commander. He has been described as running the Battalion "like clockwork".

Stewart was an outstanding Commanding Officer during the Battle for Hong Kong: an inspiration to his men and showing personal courage by visiting all the defensive positions to support and encourage his men as the battle progressed. The Battalion was amongst the last to surrender, having fought to the last stand at the Repulse Bay Hotel on the southern side of Hong Kong Island.

Lt Col HWM Stewart OBE DSO MC

The Lisbon Maru

358 members of the Battalion sailed on the Lisbon Maru, of whom 152 perished in the sinking. "Monkey" Stewart was not only the Battalion's Commanding Officer, as the senior officer he was also in command of all the prisoners of war. His calmness and inspirational leadership helped to avert panic amongst those trapped in the holds, and he was also instrumental in organising the eventual breakout from Hold No 2, which was carried out by Second Lieutenant Hargreaves Howell of the Royal Army Service Corps.

Kobe Camp

The majority of the Battalion, along with most of the other survivors of the sinking, were later incarcerated in Kobe prisoner-of-war camp, where Stewart continued to use his considerable energies to do what he could for the welfare of his men. Sadly, he succumbed to sickness and died on 21 October - barely three weeks after the sinking.

Stewart's death was a severe blow to members of the Battalion. His brother officers jointly signed this tribute to him:

Lt Col Stewart, as Senior British Officer, commanding the draft of prisoners of war being transferred from Hong Kong to Japan in the "Lisbon Maru", was in No 2 Hold of the ship at the time the torpedo struck, 07.06 hrs, 1 Oct 42. From the moment of impact until the ship sank at 10.00 hrs on 2 Oct his behaviour and example was an inspiration to the eleven hundred men in the hold. By his calmness he was largely instrumental in preventing panic, both at the time the hold was battened down and when the ship lurched over to the port side. It was his order, timed perfectly, which resulted in the hold being burst open by Lieut Howell R.A.S.C, thereby saving the lives of a great many men. By his bearing and complete lack of thought for his own safety, and by his unselfish behaviour throughout the whole episode, Col Stewart earned the respect and gratitude of all ranks.

On arrival at Shanghai & later at Japan, he persistently refused to think of his own personal condition, and worked continually for the well being of his men at the expense of his own health until he finally died, worn out mentally and physically by his devotion to duty.

Col Stewart has earned the love and respect of his officers and men, & by his example has shown us how a True DieHard should behave in the face of danger and hardship.

Distinguished Service Order Citation

The citation for Stewart's posthumous DSO reads:

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Lt-Col Stewart commanded his Battalion during the defence of Hong Kong. His machine-gun Bn. was dispersed in beach defence round the island and he was indefatigable in visiting his men, maintaining their morale by his personal example, with the result that his Bn fought with marked gallantry and skill. Nothing but praise has been heard from every quarter regarding the fighting qualities of his battalion. Towards the close of the operations he personally commanded and co-ordinated the defence of the North shore, here in spite of incessant bombardment by artillery, mortars and from the air, he displayed conspicuous powers of leadership and courage and was an inspiration to all those with whom he came into contact. Throughout he was cheerful and never hesitated to accept any task that was thrust upon him."

Drawing by Lieutenant WC Johnson of the sinking of the Lisbon Maru, presented to Captain Christopher Man while both were POWs in Kobe

Drawing by Lieutenant WC Johnson presented to Captain Christopher Man

Some Lisbon Maru Survivors

Captain Christopher Man

Christopher Man became the senior Middlesex Regiment officer in Kobe camp after the death of "Monkey" Stewart. He kept notebooks and diaries in extensive detail, which have been transcribed for posterity. Examples of this meticulous work are attached in the form of two versions of the complete nominal roll of the Battalion at the outbreak of war on 8 December 1941, one in order by ranks, the other in organisational layout by companies.

Man was privileged to be given the copy of the pencil drawing of the sinking of the Lisbon Maru. This was drawn by a US naval officer, also a prisoner in Kobe camp, Lieutenant Willard Carroll Johnson, who was an accomplished artist with a large portfolio of work, mainly of US warships. Man rolled up the drawing in a bamboo cane to keep it hidden from his captors and presented it to the Regiment after the war. It is now in the keeping of the National Army Museum in London.

Man later rose to the rank of Major General and became Colonel of The Middlesex Regiment.

Captain Christopher MM Man

Frank Waldron

Frank Waldron was an Orderly Room Sergeant during the war, working under Captain Christopher Man. He survived the sinking of the Lisbon Maru and took charge of the "stores" in Kobe camp, looking after the illicit items stolen by the prisoners working in the docks. He gained a reputation for meticulous fairness, ensuring that the "rations" were allocated to the sick and the most vulnerable.

He also helped Christopher Man by researching and recording in detail what had happened to the men who had been lost after the sinking. These details were in one of Man's collection of notes and are attached. They were also quoted in detail in Fang Li's documentary film "The Sinking of The Lisbon Maru".

After the war Frank remained with the Battalion and was commissioned as a Quartermaster. On retirement he became Regimental Secretary of The Middlesex Regimental Association and when he retired from that role continued to work for the Regiment as editor of the Regimental Newsletter "The Diehards".

He was truly dedicated to the Regiment for his whole life. Those who knew him found him to be a remarkable man, friendly to all, a true gentleman with a great sense of humour. It was difficult to believe he had suffered the horrors of the Lisbon Maru and incarceration in Japanese prisoner-of-war camps.

Sergeant Frank Waldron 1945

"Taffy" Evans

One of the Diehards who survived the Lisbon Maru and the war was Lance Corporal "Taffy" Evans. He returned to Hong Kong after the war where he worked with the Dockyard Police and later moved to The Philippines, where he settled for the rest of his life.

Every year he travelled to Hong Kong to attend the annual Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph on Statue Square, proudly sporting his regimental tie.

"Taffy" Evans, aged 95, with his family in The Philippines

General Officer Commanding's Commendation

In 1945, after the war was over, Major General CM Maltby, who was General Officer Commanding during the Battle for Hong Kong, wrote to the Colonel of The Middlesex Regiment. His comments included the following commendation:

"With regard to your 1st Battalion, who were serving under me during our short and only too tragic siege of Hong Kong. They were just splendid throughout. Being machine-gunners, they were distributed in small groups defending practically all the beaches and possible landing places of the island, and had to face enormous odds. On all occasions they fought with the utmost fortitude, taking great toll of the enemy, and practically every officer who came in contact with the NCOs and men remarked on their cheerfulness and soldierly qualities. Should I ever again be in a tight corner I would ask for nothing better than to have the 1st Battalion of the Middlesex behind me..."

After the War

The 1st Battalion had been reconstituted and immediately after the war was part of the Army of Occupation in Germany. The Battalion moved around to a number of postings in Germany as the status transitioned from occupation to the British Army of the Rhine, returning to the UK in 1948, based initially in the Regimental Depot, Mill Hill.

In 1949 the Battalion was posted again to Hong Kong and just over 12 months later embarked for Korea where they were almost immediately engaged in combat operations, fighting with true Diehard distinction and remained until May 1951 when they returned to Hong Kong.

In 1953 1st Battalion returned to the UK for a brief period before being posted overseas again, this time to Austria. Three years later they found themselves in Cyprus for peace-keeping operations facing EOKA. In 1959 the Battalion moved to Hamelin in what was West Germany (Hameln an der Weser of pied piper fame) as part of the British Army of the Rhine. In 1961 they were back in the UK at Lydd Barracks in Kent, then to Gibraltar in 1964, and Northern Ireland in 1965.

On 31 December 1966, 1st Battalion The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) became 4th Battalion The Queen's Regiment (Middlesex). The Middlesex Regiment ceased to exist as a separate regiment from that date.

The Middlesex Regimental Association continued for several years to support former members of the Regiment, serving and retired. The Association was wound up on 31 December 2016. The traditions of The Middlesex Regiment continue to be respected and commemorated by both The Queen's Regimental Association and The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment who have also assumed responsibility for the welfare of regimental veterans.

Former members of The Middlesex Regiment continue to meet informally, from time to time, including on 16 May to commemorate Albuhera Day.

References

1st Battalion Nominal Roll on 8 December 1941 (by rank) Transcription from one of two notebooks of Capt C M M Man.

1st Battalion Nominal Roll on 8 December 1941 (organisational, by company) Transcription from one of two notebooks of Capt C M M Man.

1st Battalion Personnel Missing from Lisbon Maru Transcription of handwritten entries by Frank Waldron in a notebook maintained by Capt C M M Man.

Further details of the Regiment's recent history, including details of the activities of members of 1st Battalion, can be found in the Diehards Journals, published from 1922 to 1967. The last pre-war edition was August 1939 and the first post-war edition was 1944. These journals are available at:

https://www.queensregimentalassociation.org/journals-and-newsletters/middlesex-journals/middlesex-regiment-journals.html

Outline History of The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own)