Five thousand British troops under Sir Arthur Wellesley, later the Duke of Wellington, faced forty-two thousand Mahrattas at the Battle of Assaye (1803), alongside The 78th Highlanders, The 19th Light Dragoon and various battalions of Sepoys. Despite orders to avoid the fortified village of Assaye, the picquet commander led his men toward the enemy guns and cavalry. The 74th, following orders to support the picquets, found themselves exposed to artillery fire and repeated cavalry charges. In the face of annihilation, every officer present was killed or wounded except Quartermaster James Grant. This non-combatant, seeing his friends fall, joined the ranks and fought until the battle’s end. The regiment was reduced from 500 men to just 80 able to answer roll call. In one company of 50 men, 48 were killed. Despite catastrophic losses, the 74th held their position. Their refusal to break saved Wellesley’s right flank and the entire battle. Wellesley never forgot their sacrifice. Years later, when asked about his finest military moment, the Duke of Wellington replied simply: “Assaye.” He added nothing more. The 74th became “My Fighting Regiment”—a designation that honoured their extraordinary courage.