1846.
On the 18th of April, 1846, the head-quarters and four companies of the first battalion embarked at Antigua, on board the transport “Princess Royal,” and landed at Barbadoes on the 24th of the same month.
The first battalion, under the command of Captain Nathaniel Massey Stack, embarked for England at Barbadoes on the 29th and 31st of December, on board of Her Majesty’s ship “Belleisle.” During this tour of service in the West Indies, which lasted just three years, 1 officer, 8 sergeants, and 124 rank and file died of fever and dysentery.
On the 6th of October, 1846, the reserve battalion left Kingston, in Canada West, and the head-quarters arrived at La Prairie on the 8th of that month.
1847.
The ship “Belleisle,” having the first battalion on board, sailed for Portsmouth on the 1st of January, 1847, and arrived at Spithead on the 25th of that month. After disembarking at Portsmouth, the battalion proceeded to Winchester, where it was stationed until the 19th of July, when it was conveyed in three divisions by railway to Glasgow, and on the 21st of December it was removed to Edinburgh.
In September, 1847, the head-quarters of the reserve battalion were removed from La Prairie to Chambly, and in October proceeded to St. John’s, in Canada East.
1848.
Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Arbuthnot, K.C.B., was removed from the colonelcy of the Ninth Foot to that of the Seventy-first Highlanders on the 18th of February, 1848, in succession to Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Reynell, Bart. and K.C.B., deceased.
Three companies of the first battalion proceeded from Edinburgh to Dublin on the 27th of April, 1848, and the head-quarters, with the three remaining companies, were removed to Dublin on the 1st of May. In June the head-quarters were removed to Naas.