Description
Physical description
The Prince of Wales's plume within a coronet, beneath which a scroll inscribed the motto ICH DIEN (I Serve), below the scroll the coronet and cipher of the Duke of Cambridge interlaced and reversed, all within a laurel wreath. Across the bottom of the wreath is a scroll inscribed ALBUHERA and below the wreath another scroll inscribed MIDDLESEX REGIMENT. The plume, motto and Regimental title scrolls are in white metal, the remainder in gilding metal. Slider on the reverse.
This example is curved along its vertical axis.
History note
Badge as worn 1898 to 1958.
The predecessor Regiment was raised in 1755 by Colonel John Arabin as the 59th Regiment of Foot. In 1757 it was serving as Marines when it was re-numbered 57th Regiment of Foot. In 1782 it was re-designated 57th (West Middlesex) Regiment of Foot.
In the 1881 Cardwell/Childers reforms the Regiment merged with the 77th Foot (The East Middlesex) (The Duke of Cambridge's Own) to form the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment).
The badge adopted at this time, and retained in all essentials following the change of headdress in around 1898, was an amalgamation of the badges worn by the parent Regiments. The senior, 57th, brought the wreath and the battle-honour ALBUHERA. The latter commemorates an incident during the Peninsular War battle in 1811 when the wounded Colonel Inglis of the 57th protected the Regimental Colours, shouting "Die hard, my men, die hard!", which led to the Regimental nickname "The Diehards". The 77th provided the Prince of Wales's plumes, coronet and motto scroll ICH DIEN (I Serve), and also the ducal coronet and the interlaced cipher of the Duke of Cambridge, the Regiment having been re-named in 1876 by the addition of "(The Duke of Cambridge's Own)" after the county designation.
In 1921 the badge remained unchanged when the Regiment was re-titled "The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own)".
In 1948 the Regiment became a single battalion unit with the amalgamation of 1st and 2nd Battalions, retaining the badge. In 1958 the Regiment became part of the Home Counties Brigade, at which time it the regular battalions should have adopted the Brigade badge.
In 1966 the Regiment was amalgamated with The Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment, The Queen's Own Buffs (Royal Kent Regiment) and the Royal Sussex Regiment, to form The Queen's Regiment, becoming that Regiment's 4th Battalion. At this time it adopted the Queen's Regiment badge. The Battalion was disbanded in 1972.