Why the ‘Nutcrackers’ are so called.

(A nice bit of Victorian blood and gore for the littlun’s! )

Taken from ‘Little Folks a Magazine for the Young’ dated 1890.

‘The famous regiment of Buffs, used also to be known as the 3rd Foot, once rejoiced for a while in the nickname of the “Nutcrackers.” This was after the battle of Albuera, which was fought on the 16th of May, 1811. In this terribly fierce conflict they attacked the Polish Lancers, whose heads they cracked. Then, after the fashion of the nut-cracking tool, they opened to avoid the charge of the Polish horse, and retreated. In a few minutes, however, they again took the field, and once more proceeded-like brave British soldiers-to fight with all their well-known courage for king and country.’