This wooden shell of a drum was carried by Middleton’s Regiment in the 1720s. The arms of Clan Middleton include the crest of a castle tower with a lion rampant on top, a shield with another lion rampant with a letter Y below the crest. The Middleton motto FORTIS IN ARDUIS (brave in difficulty) is above and the French motto JE N’OUBLIERAI PAS (I Will not Forget) on a scroll below.
Brigadier-General John Middleton was Colonel of the Regiment from 17 June 1721 until 28 May 1732. He had served for many years as an officer in the regiment and commanded them in Scotland during the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715. He was also Colonel of the 13th Regiment of Foot from 29 May 1732 until his death on 4 May 1739 at the age of 59.
The Middleton Arms were also emblazoned on the Colours of the Regiment during his colonelcy.
