Over the Hills and Far Away

This book charts the life of Private Thomas Norris of the 57th West Middlesex Regiment, who was born in Watford in 1778 and fought with the British Army through the Napoleonic wars in Spain, Portugal and France from 1809 to 1814. He died a Chelsea Pensioner in 1858 at the age of 81, and was decorated with seven battle honours; Busaco, Albuhera, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nive , Nivelle and Toulouse. The most senior of these was for the Battle of Albuhera (Albuera) on 16th May 1811, where his regiment emerged victorious despite being outnumbered 5 to 1 against the French. The 57th lost 75% of their men and as a mark or respect, the regiment was the first ever to be allowed to wear the name of a battle in their uniform buttons and headdress "Albuhera". The 200 or so of them that survived the day, were nicknamed the die hards, and the regiment are still called this even now. The yellow cuffs and collars of the red tunics became symbolic of the bravery of the regiment, and when in the 1820's, the army tried to standardise uniforms with white cuffs and collars throughout the 100 or so regiments, the 57th soldiers smeared egg yolks on the collars and cuffs of thier new uniforms so as never to give up the spirit of Albuhera. The ministry of defense allowed the 57th to retain the yellow cuffs and collars and new uniforms were provided. This gives an indication of just how important the 57th's involvement at Albuera was, and this book therefore represents a unique insight into the life and times of a forgotten hero.