Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 5.djvu/170

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [9* s. v. MARCH 3, 1900.

Ulster's), who were nicknamed "Celestials" because of their blue facings.

The 10th Hussars have the name of the " Chainy Tenth," from the metal ornament on the pouch belt.

" Cheeses " is a nickname which has been applied to the Household Cavalry, and was given because a century ago it was re- modelled on a somewhat more democratic basis, and some "gentlemen" therefore de- clined to join ! " Come on, Cheesemongers, charge ! " was the cry of the colonel at Water- loo.

" Cherry Pickers " is a name given to the llth Hussars from the cherry colour of the overalls. They have also been called " Cheru- bim." A story is told of a party of the regiment having been surprised in a cherry garden during the Peninsular War.

'* Coalheavers " is a nickname for the Grenadier Guards, originating, it is said, in the permission formerly given to the men to work, in plain clothes, in the coal trade.

The second battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles, formerly the 86th Regiment, were known as " County Downs."

" Cross Belts " is a name for the 8th Hussars.

" The Daily Advertisers " is a name applied, for unknown reasons, to the 5th Lancers.

The 17th Lancers are the " Death

or

Glory Boys" a name easily explained, as their banner bears a skull underneath which are the words " or glory."

The 9th Lancers are known as the " Delhi Spearmen," from the dexterity with which they used their lances in the Indian Mutiny. The " Devil's Own " was the nickname of the old 88th, now the Connaught Rangers.

The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) includes the former 57th, known as the "Die Hards," from their splendid courage at Albuera.

The " Dirty Half Hundred " is a name for the former 50th, now part of the Queen's Royal West Kent Regiment.

The 8th Hussars are the "Dirty Eighth." Why this designation should be suitable to this regiment is one of the mysteries of the usually good-natured spirit of satire to which military nicknames are due.

The Royal Munster Fusiliers are made up of the former 101st and 104th Regiments. " Dirty Shirts " was the name given to the 101st, who fought in their shirt sleeves at Delhi.

The 18th Hussar Regiment is known as " Drogheda Light Horse," because it was first raised in the middle of the last century by the Marquis of Drogheda.

The 19th Hussars are sometimes called the " Dumpies," from the short stature of the men who composed the regiment of Bengal cavalry from which it was formed. The 20th Hussars share this nickname, as also do the 21st Hussars.

The "Eagle Takers" was the proud by- name of the Royal Irish Fusiliers, who captured the French eagle at Barrosa.

The Royal Scots Fusiliers, are known as the " Earl of Mar's Grey Breeks." The regi- ment was first raised by Lord Mar- in 1678.

The Royal Fusiliers have been called " Elegant Extracts." The reason assigned for this odd nickname is that at some un- specified period many of the officers had been transferred from other regiments.

"Evergreens" is a name for the 13th Hussars.

The "Excellers," now incorporated in the Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lanca- shire Regiment), derived their name from the regimental "XL."

The Durham Light Infantry comprise the former 68th and 106th Regiments. The 68th were known as the "Faithful Durharns."

The Bedfordshire Regiment was nicknamed "Featherbeds," because for a very long period it saw no active service. Its flag begins with Blenheim and ends with Chitral.

The "Fighting Fifth" was a name for the Northumberland Fusiliers.

The 15th Hussars have well earned their designation of the " Fighting Fifteenth."

The Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment) include the 40th, often styled the "Fighting Fortieth."

In the Royal Irish Rifles are amalgamated the 83rd and the 86th Regiments. The first were known as " Fitch's Grenadiers."

The former 54th, now the Dorsetshire Regi- ment, were known as the " Flamers."

The "Gallant Half Hundred" is a nick- name for the former 50th, which now form part of the Queen's Royal West Kent Regi- ment.

" Gardiner's Dragoons " is a name for the 13th Hussars.

" Garvies" was the nickname of the former 94th, which now forms part of the Connaught Rangers. WILLIAM E. A. AXON.

(To be continued.)

SHAKESPEARIANA.

'HAMLET,' I. iv. 36 (9 th S. iv. 222).-! did not at this time of day expect in the 'Shake- speariana' of *N. & Q.' to meet with an emendation so wildly conjectural as that proposed by ME,. G. H. SKIPWITH. Emenda- tions of this kind have long been at a dis-