William Inglis (British Army officer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir
William Inglis
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Sir William Inglis
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| Born | 1764 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 29 November 1835 (aged 70–71) Ramsgate, Kent, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
British Army |
| Years of service | 1779–1835 |
| Rank | Lieutenant-General |
| Commands held | 57th Regiment of Foot Brigade, 2nd Division Brigade, 7th Division |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Army Gold Cross |
| Other work | Governor of Cork |
Sir William Inglis (born 1764, died 1835) was a brave British Army officer. He fought in important wars like the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.
Inglis was known for his courage in the Peninsular War. He was wounded many times. He became famous for shouting "Die hard 57th, die hard!" to his soldiers. This happened during the tough Battle of Albuera, even while he was seriously hurt.
His regiment, the 57th, held their ground and helped win the battle. Even though his injuries were very serious, Inglis returned to fight two years later. After the wars, he was made a knight. He also served as a military governor in places like Cork, Ireland, where he passed away in 1835.
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Early Military Life
William Inglis was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1764. His father was a doctor. We don't know much about his early life or schooling.
His first official army records show he joined the 57th Regiment of Foot in 1779. He actually met his regiment in New York in 1781. This was during the American Revolutionary War. After Britain lost the war, Inglis and his regiment moved to Nova Scotia, Canada. He spent the next ten years there.
While in North America, Inglis became a lieutenant in 1782 and a captain in 1785. In 1791, his unit returned to Britain. The French Revolution had just happened. Inglis helped keep order in the Midlands for two years.
Fighting in Europe
When war with France began in 1793, Inglis and the 57th Regiment went to the Low Countries. They fought in an unsuccessful campaign led by the Duke of York. Inglis also took part in a short, failed trip to Brittany in France. By the winter of 1794, he was back in Belgium.
Inglis fought well during the siege of Nijmegen. He was promoted to major in 1795.
Service in the West Indies
In 1796, Inglis and his regiment were sent to the West Indies. Their ship, the Charon, was the only one in their group to arrive safely. Because there were so few soldiers, Inglis played a big part in the British attack on St. Lucia. He helped capture the Morne Fortuné fort. Inglis also helped capture the islands of Grenada and Trinidad.
While in the Caribbean, Inglis became a lieutenant colonel. In 1802, he returned to Britain. He spent time training a new group of soldiers for the 57th Regiment. In 1804, he took command of this new unit in the Channel Islands. He found his soldiers were sometimes undisciplined when not fighting. However, their fighting spirit and morale were always praised.
In 1809, Inglis and his regiment left the Channel Islands. They joined Sir Arthur Wellesley's army in Portugal. This was for the Peninsular War.
The Peninsular War
In Portugal, Inglis's soldiers were part of the 2nd Division. Inglis, who was now a colonel, took command of his brigade. This happened just before the Battle of Busaco in September 1810. The battle was a success for the British. Inglis did well and kept command of his brigade.
He also saw action in smaller fights as the British chased the French army.
The Battle of Albuera
The Battle of Albuera in 1811 was a very important moment for Inglis. The British forces faced a strong French attack. The British commander made some mistakes. This led to a very difficult fight for Inglis's brigade.
"Die Hard 57th, Die Hard!"
The French cavalry and infantry attacked fiercely. Inglis's soldiers had to stay in a tight group. French cannons fired deadly shots at them. Inglis's commander was killed. Inglis himself was hit by a cannonball. It went into his neck and shoulder, causing a lot of bleeding.
Even though he was badly wounded, Inglis refused to leave the fight. He lay near his regiment's flags, just behind the soldiers. The 57th Regiment was losing many men. They had lost two-thirds of their strength. But Inglis kept shouting, "Die hard 57th, die hard!"
His words inspired his soldiers. Despite the heavy losses, the 57th held their line. The French soldiers eventually lost heart and retreated. Other British forces arrived, and the British won the battle.
Inglis's famous words became the motto of the 57th Regiment of Foot. Today, it is part of the motto for the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.
Returning to the Fight
Inglis was carried off the battlefield, close to death. It took two days for surgeons to remove the cannonball. His commander, General Beresford, praised Inglis greatly. He said Inglis's actions were amazing.
Inglis's wounds were so severe that he had to return to Britain to recover. He missed two years of the Peninsular War. In May 1813, he was well enough to fight again. He became a brigadier-general and then a major-general. He commanded a brigade in the 7th Division.
With this unit, Inglis fought in the Pyrenees Mountains. In the Battle of the Pyrenees, he led his men to storm a French position. This helped the British army force the French to retreat. During this battle, a horse was shot from under him.
In 1813, Inglis was heavily involved in fighting near Vera. He lost another horse in this battle. In November 1813, Inglis led his men across the Nivelle River. They stormed and captured the heights above it in the Battle of Nivelle. Inglis was slightly wounded in the foot during this success. In February 1814, Inglis's brigade fought at Airgavé. Soon after, they were engaged at the Battle of Orthez, where another horse was shot from under him.
Later Life and Retirement
After the Peninsular War ended, Inglis returned to Britain. He was thanked by the British Parliament. He was also made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. He received medals for his service at Albuera, the Pyrenees, and Nivelle.
In 1822, Inglis married Mary Anne Raymond. They had two sons, William and Raymond, who both became army officers. In 1825, Inglis was promoted to lieutenant general. In 1827, he became the Lieutenant-Governor of Kinsale in Ireland. Two years later, he was promoted to Governor of Cork. He held this job until he died. In 1830, he also became the colonel of the 57th Regiment, the unit he served with for 31 years.
Death
Sir William Inglis died on November 29, 1835, at the age of 71. He passed away in Ramsgate, Kent, England. His body was buried in the Chapter House of Canterbury Cathedral. He was survived by his wife and two sons.
