“As soon as he heard of it, the Commanding Officer and Second-in-command at once interviewed the General, who informed them that the reason of the recall was ‘that the regiment was saturated with malarial fever.’
“The Commanding Officer, well knowing that at the time sickness had almost entirely disappeared, asked for a medical board, the result being that the board passed 523 men as absolutely fit, and above the average in physique. Thirty only were rejected at Fort Lockhart; most of the remainder were at Kohat and Hangu and were not examined.
“Every effort was made to get the order cancelled, but without avail. The battalion marched into Rawal Pindi over 700 strong.
“A court of enquiry was applied for, and refused.
“In the end the battalion was ordered back to the front, but too late to take part in any further important operations. It thus lost the chance of adding fresh laurels to its name, through no fault of its own.
“It was not long before certain libellous newspaper writers, eager for scandal, commenced their attacks on the fair fame of the regiment, but no one who knows the material of which it consisted, men from the counties of Wexford, Tipperary, Kilkenny, and Waterford, ever for a moment gave credence to their tales.
“No steps have been left untaken to have this great wrong righted. His lordship, the Commander-in-Chief has given the above decision, and every man who wears or who has ever worn the uniform of the Royal Irish owes a debt of gratitude to his lordship which can never be sufficiently repaid for the trouble he has taken in our cause.
“Colonel Lawrence would like to make it known to the battalions here at Kilworth that he never heard or heard of, a complaint from any one during these operations, though the heat, hard work, and long marches were particularly trying. On the contrary, the men were conspicuous for cheery willingness and good temper, and their eager keenness to meet the enemy.
“Camp, Kilworth, June 8th, 1898.”