Vie lòie VJ-arcló THE JOURNAL OF THE MIDDLESEX REGIMENT a ule of* C^amlridÿe S O w n ) VOL. VIII. No. 6 JUNE, 1948 PRICE 1/- THE MIDDLESEX REGIMENT (DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE'S OWN) (57) The Plume of the Prince of Wales. In each of the four comers the late Duke of Cambridge's Cypher and Coronet. ** Mysore,” “ Seringapatam," “ Albuhera,” “ Ciudad Rod-iço,” “ Badajoz,” “ Vittoria,” “ Pyrenees,” “ Nivelle,” “ Nive,” “ Peninsular,” "Alma,” “ Inkerman,” “Sevastopol,” “ New Zealand,” “ South Africa, 1879,” "Relief of Ladysmith,” “ South Africa, 1900-02." The Great War—46 Battalions— “ Mons,” " Le Cateau,” “ Retreat from Mons,” “ Marne, 1914,” “ Aisne, 1014. ’18,” “ La Bassèe, 1914,” “ Messines, 1014, T~. TS,” " Armentières, 1914,” “ Neuve Chapelle,” “ Ypres, 1915, '17, ’18,” *' Gravenstafel,” “ St. Julien," “ Frezenbere." “ Bellewaarde.” " Aubers,” “ Hooge, 1915," “ Loos.” “ Somme, 1916, '18,” “ Albert, 1916, ’18,” “ Baz enfin,” " Delville Wood.' “ Pozières,” " Ginchy,” “ Flers-Courcelette,” “ Morval,” “ Thiepval," “ Le Transloy,” “ Ancre Heights," “ Ancre, 1916, ’iS," “ Bapaume, 1917, TS," “ Arras, 1017, ’18," " Vimy, 1917,” " Scarpe, 1917, ’18,” " Arleux," ** Pilckem,” “ Langemarck, 1917,” " Menin Road," “ Polvgon Wood,” “ Broodseinde,” " Poelcappelle,” “ Passchendaele,” “ Cambrai, 1917, ’18,” " St. Quentin," " Rosières," " Avre," “ Villers Bretonneux.” “ Lys,” " Estaires,” “ Hazebrouck,” “ Bailleul,” " Kemmel,” " Scherpenberg.” “ Hindenburg Line,” ** Canal du Nord,” "St. Quentin Canal,” “ Courtrai," “ Selle,” "Valenciennes,” “ Sambre,” “ France and Flanders, 1014-1S.“ “ Italy, 1917-18,” “ Struma,” “ Doiran, 1918,” “ Macedonia, 1915-18,” " Suvla,” “ Landing at Suvia," “ Scimitar Hill,” “ Gallipoli, 1915.'* " Rumani," "Egypt, 1915-17,” “ Gaza,” “ El Mughar,” “ Jerusalem,” "Jericho,” “ Jordan,” “ Tell 'Asur." "Palestine, 1017-18,' “ Mesopotamia, 1917-18, * " Murman, 1919»" “ Dukhovskaya," " Siberia, 1918-19.” Regular and Militia Battalions. Allied Regiments of Canadian Militia. 1st Bn. (57th Foot). 2nd Bn. (77th Foot). 50th H.A.A Regiment (Prince of Wales Rangers) 5th Bn. (Royal Elthome Militia). Peter 1 -»rough, Ontario. .6th Bn. (Royal East Middlesex Militia). The Wentworth Regiment . Dundas, Ontario. Depot—Mill Hill. Records Office, I n f a n tr y Records, W a rw ic k . The Middlesex and Huron Regiment London, Ontario. Pay Office— Old Infantry’ Barracks, Canterbury. Allied Battalion of Australian Infantry. 57th Bn. Preston- Territorial Army Battalions i/7th Bn. 2/7th B11. Sth Bn. 30th Bn. Allied Regiment of New Zealand Military Forces 9tb Bn. 595 L.A.A., R.A., T.A. The Taranaki Regiment New Plymouth. 1st and 2nd Bns. Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment. 1st, 2nd and 3rd Independent Coys. Colonel of the Regim ent; No. 1 Heavy Support Coy. Colonel M. Browne, M.C., D.L., J.P. Affiliated A/A Units of the Territorial Army Officer Commanding Depot: (7th City of London) Searchlight Regiment R.A. (St. Pancras) Searchlight Regiment R.A. Lt.-Col. A. S. J. de S. Clayton Agents—Lloyds Bank Limited, 127 The Broadway, Mill Hill, N.W .7. CONTENTS Page P a g e E d ito ria l 167 xst Battalion Notes .. .. .. -. .. 179 O b itu a ry 167 2nd Battalion Notes -. .. .. 185 Fate of the Regim ent 168 7th Battalion Notes . - - - 191 Officers’ Club Notes 169 Wingate’s Chindits .. .. .. -. *9 * Colonel of the Regim ent's Notes 1 7 0 Albuhera Day in Sierra Leone .. .. 194 Regimental Association Notes 173 Regimental Crests in India .. .. 194 Regimental Depot Notes 174 Blood River Incident .. ■ • - • - - *95 Depot O.C. Club *75 H.C.B.T.C. Notes . 178 N otices, etc. - - *95 NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS. “ The Die-Hards ” is published in March, June, September and December, and copies may be obtained by application to the Editor. „ All Contributions intended tor Publication should reach the Editor not later than the 1st 0/ the month previous to that 0/ issue. C O N TRIBU TIO N S SHOULD BE TYPED IN TRIPLICATE. AND BE ON ONE SIDE OF THE PAPER ONLY , and signed, stating whether it is desired to Publish the contributor's name or not. Rejected manuscripts etc., trill only be returned it accompanied by a stamped a u addressea envelope. 1 he Editor m il thankfully receive Contributions from past or present members of the Regiment or others interested, but necessarily reserves to Himself tie * of publication. A ll communications concerning the paper, including Advertisements, should be addressea to the Editor, Toe Die-Hards Journal, The Middlesex Regiment, Inglis Barracks, M ill H ill, London, N .W .y. Subscriptions should be forwarded to the Editor “ The Die-Hards ” Journal, to whom all Cheques and Postal Orders should be made payable *** crossed “ — & Co.” ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION 5/- (**<«* Free) 168 ^Jlie 2bie-^JJardó D,le Sbie-JJarcL >69 OBITUARY THE FATE OF THE REGIMENT ponderable, morale, so important. The sailor has his Colonel J. L. Blumfeld ship, the airman his aircraft, the artilleryman his gun, By Arthur Bryant the cavalryman his tank or horse to inspire affection and The passing, at the age of eighty-three, of Col. J. L. (Reprinted from The Sunday Times of April 4, 1948, loyalty. But the infantryman depends in the last resort Blumfeld on Sunday, April 18, 1948, will leave a great by kind permission) upon one thing: his tempered and unconquerable gap to his many friends ; it almost seems like the spirit. passing of a generation. The safety and honour of Britain depend, not on her E ditor: Major A. W. Clark, O.B.E. It is no accident that the symbol round which in the At an early age he spent quite a time in South Africa, wealth and administration, but on the character of her past the British infantryman fought, and which again and and on his return joined as a Volunteer in London, people. This in turn depends on the institutions which again he died to defend, was the Regimental Colours. EDITORIAL subsequently becoming a commissioned officer in the form character. In war it depends, in particular, on the For these were for him the ark of his own peculiar 9th Harrow Rifles. During the South African War this military institutions which create the martial habits of Most readers will have already heard of the very great covenant: the exclusive brotherhood in which he had unit was amalgamated with the 5th West Middlesex, discipline, courage, loyalty, pride and endurance. misfortune of Lt.-Gen. Sir Brian Horrocks, K.B.E., voluntarily enlisted and which he would sooner die than where for many years he commanded the Stanmore In the British Army from time immemorial the most C.B., D.S.O., M .C., in having to give up command of betray. T o let down the regiment, to be unworthy of Company. He became a major in 1905 and became first important of these has been the regiment. The regiment the Rhine Army because of ill health. No one can have the men of old who had marched under the same associated with the Middlesex Regiment when the unit is not merely an administrative organisation to be judged spared himself less and more deserved a long rest, and Colours, to be untrue to the comrades who had shared was transferred to the 9th Battalion The Middlesex by its logistical convenience. Method and industry in the everyone will wish him a full and speedy recovery. the same loyalties, hardships and perils was more than Regiment in 1908. In 1910 he was appointed to com­ office and administrative tidiness— admirable qualities— even the least-tutored, humblest soldier would do. And As Commander-in-Chief of the Rhine Army he was to mand, which he held until 1918. During the latter avail nothing on the battlefield unless implemented by it was always a peculiar and special pride, so dear to the have been responsible for the vitally important task of years he served in India and Mesopotamia. He became the courage and selflessness of the fighting man. War hearts of the free men of our race. “ Neither King’s nor training the bulk of the National Service recruits, a task Honorary Colonel of the Battalion in 1922 and in 1931 is a hateful thing. Yet, by a paradox not always realised, Queen’s nor Royal,” shouted the proud Colonel of the to which he has been looking forward with all that he was made a Deputy-Lieutenant of the county, and the soldier’s is the noblest of callings. For no other boundless enthusiasm so characteristic of him. Plans Gloucesters, “ only old Bragg’s Brass before and Brass up to the time of his death was President of the Old man has to make such constant demands on his own behind ; Twenty-eighth Foot— shoulder arms ! ” had only recently been made for him to present the new Comrades’ Association. nature. In him instinctive and spasmodic courage and Colours to the ist Battalion on May 15. He was one of the first members of the Territorial selflessness have to be fostered and disciplined into Regimental Pride By now members of the Regiment will have had time Army Association and served for a great number of second nature. Again and again this pride in the continuing regiment to adjust their outlook to the new position of the Regi­ years. The regiment exists to ensure this. It is something ment in the infantry. Col. Blumfeld was one of the first officers to initiate more than a vehicle for orders ; it is a school for military has enabled the infantryman to stand firm and fight There are bound to be regrets at much that has closer relations with the Territorial and Regular units of virtue. Its value to our country is that it evokes men’s forward when the bravest without it would have failed. happened, and will happen, from these changes ; in­ the Regiment, and in this work he was closely associated love, pride and loyalty and, by doing so, enables them on It is a pride which turns disaster and injustice— the lot of deed, it is only right and natural that there should be.