1837
Having received orders to transfer its services to the British possessions in Asia, the ROYAL IRISH regiment was divided into six service and four depôt companies, and on the 10th of January, 1837, the service companies embarked for Ceylon, under the orders of Colonel George Burrell: they landed at Colombo on the 1st of June, and were stationed at that place and at Galle.
1838
In the autumn of 1838 the depôt companies embarked from Dublin, and, landing at Portsmouth, were stationed in South Britain.
1839
The service companies remained at Colombo and Galle until February, 1839, when a change of quarters took place, and they were stationed at Trincomalee and Galle, where they continued until March of the following year.
1840
In the mean time a course of violence and spoliation had been commenced by the Chinese government against the persons and property of the British merchants trading with that empire, in consequence of the introduction of opium into China, which was prohibited by the Chinese laws, but was tacitly admitted by the local authorities, who did not enforce the law. At length, however, the Chinese authorities commenced summary measures without sufficient previous notice, and the British superintendents of trade found it necessary to apply to the Governor-General of India for a number of ships of war and armed vessels for the protection of life and property. The violence of the Chinese, however, could not be restrained by reason or menace, but the thunder of British artillery was necessary to enforce forbearance.
The British government found it necessary to send an expedition to the Chinese seas, to compel the government of the "Celestial empire" to acknowledge the principles of international law, as adopted by civilized nations, and the ROYAL IRISH regiment was one of the corps selected for this service. Three companies from the depôt embarked from Portsmouth in October, 1839, and arrived at Bombay in March, 1840, and they afterwards sailed for China: three companies embarked from Trincomalee in May, and three from Galle in June, and sailed for the Chinese seas.
Hostilities having been found unavoidable, it became important to gain possession of a portion of the Chinese territory, and the governor of Chusan, an island lying off the coast, and comprising in its jurisdiction a small group of islands, was summoned to surrender in the beginning of July. He, however, made dispositions to defend the place, and on the morning of the 5th of July the shore was crowded with Chinese troops, and the landing place, wharf, and adjoining hill displayed an array of military power. The British shipping silenced the enemy's war-junks and batteries; and the right wing of the ROYAL IRISH regiment, commanded by Major Henry William Adams, with the Royal Marines of the fleet, forming the advance, landed. They were followed by other corps, and the British troops, commanded by Brigadier-General George Burrell, Lieut.-Colonel of the EIGHTEENTH, took up a position in front of the fortified city of Ting-hae-hien, from whence a sharp fire was kept up for some time; but before the following day the Chinese soldiers fled in a panic. The city was taken possession of, and this success gave presage of future conquests; but the climate proved injurious to the health of the troops, and many soldiers died.