Having acquired these public honours and Royal favours, the Seventy-second was once more ordered to the Cape of Good Hope, to arrest and punish the aggressions of the Kaffirs, who continued to prey upon the industry of our colonists, and had become a hinderance, by the terror they inspired, to the progress of the colony. At length the expulsion from the colony of a vagrant chief, Macomo, who had abused the British protection, stirred the animosity of earlier years, which, encouraged by our lenity, unmasked itself in a desolating irruption, especially evident in and around Graham’s Town, which fell an easy prey to the rapacious fury of the enemy. To avenge the innocent blood thus shed, and retaliate the ruin that had been entailed, the Seventy-second advanced with other troops into Kaffirland, inflicting a severe but just chastisement for the atrocities that had been committed; taking, moreover, such pledges from the foe as it was fondly hoped should secure protection and peace for the future. Having apparently subdued the spirit of lawless aggression, and restored confidence in the colonists by a residence of nearly ten years amongst them, the regiment returned home, and landed at Plymouth in 1840.
Whilst stationed at Windsor in 1841, it was destined anew to receive a signal mark of Royal favour—its new colours being presented by the Duke of Wellington, in the quadrangle of the palace, and in presence of Her Majesty the Queen, Prince Albert, and the King of Prussia. In presenting these colours, the Duke of Wellington thus addressed the soldiers:—
“I have long known the Seventy-second Highland Regiment. Half-a-century has now nearly elapsed since I had the pleasure of serving in the same army with them in the plains of Hindoostan; since that period they have been engaged in the conquest of some of the most valuable colonies of the British Crown; and latterly, in performing most distinguished services at the Cape of Good Hope. Fourteen years out of the last sixteen they have spent on Foreign service; and with only eighteen months at home for their re-formation and their re-disciplining, appear in their present high state of regularity and order.... I have made it my business to inquire particularly, and am rejoiced to find that the Seventy-second have always commanded that respect and regard, wherever they have been stationed, to which their high state of discipline and good order so justly entitle them. You will, I am sure, always recollect the circumstances under which these colours are now given into your charge; having been consecrated by one of the highest dignitaries of the Church, in the presence of Her Majesty, who now looks down upon you, and of her Royal Visitor; and I give them into your charge, confident that at all times, under all circumstances, whether at home or abroad, and in all privations, you will rally round them, and protect them to the utmost of your power.”
THE SEVENTY-SECOND (“DUKE OF ALBANY’S”) AND SEVENTY-FOURTH HIGHLANDERS.
After a variety of home services, the regiment was removed, in 1844, to Gibraltar, and thence, in 1848, to the West Indies. Leaving the West Indies for North America in July, 1851, it returned home in October, 1854. Proceeding to Malta in January, 1855, and thence, in May following, to the Crimea, it there gained “Sevastopol” for the regimental colours. Returning to England at the peace, the Seventy-second remained at home until August, 1857, when the corps embarked for Bombay on the breaking out of the Indian mutiny, and served with distinction in Central India, under Sir Hugh Rose, especially in the storming of the strongly-fortified town of Awah, being thereafter associated with the Seventy-first Highland Light Infantry in the campaign.
The regiment is still serving in the Bombay Presidency.