The regiment shared also in the arduous duties of the British troops employed during the early part of the American war, which commenced in 1775.
The next important service on which the EIGHTEENTH, ROYAL IRISH, regiment was engaged, was the ever-memorable campaign of the British army in Egypt, which succeeded in repelling from that country the French army, which had vainly styled itself "invincible," and through the efforts of which Napoleon Bonaparte intended to open a route to India, and thereby disturb, if not annihilate, the British possessions in Asia.
After returning from Egypt, the services of this valuable regiment were employed in guarding the colonial possessions in the West Indies for a period of twelve years, during which the British army acquired additional honours and distinctions by its services in the Peninsula, which terminated in 1814, and afterwards by the decisive battle and overthrow of the French army at Waterloo.
The EIGHTEENTH was employed on garrison duty from 1821 to 1832 in the islands of the Mediterranean.
In 1837 the regiment was embarked for Ceylon, and in 1840 it formed part of the expedition to the Chinese seas, and by its gallantry eventually compelled the government of the "Celestial empire" to cede a portion of territory to the British Crown, and to pay an indemnity for losses sustained: the word China and the device of the Dragon, authorized by Her Majesty to be borne on the colours and appointments of the regiment, are proud memorials of its services in this distant scene of warfare, which was a novel arena, not only to the EIGHTEENTH, but to European troops generally. The regiment was again employed during the military operations on the Canton river in 1847, and towards the close of that year proceeded to the East Indies.
After a service of twelve years in the eastern parts of the world, the EIGHTEENTH, ROYAL IRISH, regiment has received instructions to be prepared to return to its native country, on being relieved by the ninety-sixth regiment from the New South Wales Colony.
In drawing this summary, the compiler could not conclude the record of the arduous services of so meritorious a regiment, without an endeavour to do justice to its loyalty and devotedness to ten successive sovereigns, and to its zeal and usefulness in the cause of its country, during a period of one hundred and sixty-five years.
1848.