“Garrison Orders.
“Brigade-Major’s Office, Corfu,
“Sept. 18th, 1828.
“Major-General Woodford will not allow the Eighty-Eighth regiment to embark without his expressing the satisfaction he feels at the invariably good conduct the regiment has maintained in the garrison. Its interior order and general soldier-like appearance sufficiently evince the assiduous attention which has been bestowed on the regulation and discipline of the corps. The Major-General feels this tribute to be due to Lieutenant-Colonel O’Malley, and he requests he will communicate his sentiments to the regiment.”
1830
In April, 1830, the Eighty-Eighth again returned to Corfu, where it remained until September, 1831, when it was removed to Vido, and continued there until December, 1831, when it again proceeded to Corfu. The reserve companies remained in Ireland from 1825, to April, 1830, when they embarked for England.
From the time of its original formation, the Eighty-Eighth regiment had, as stated at the commencement of the Record, borne on its colours and appointments a device, consisting of a Harp and Crown, with the motto “Quis separabit?” No direct authority appears to have authorised this appropriation of a badge and motto, but use had sanctioned it, and the recollection of the fields of glory in which it had waved before the enemy, endeared it to the sympathies of the officers and men. In an official design for a new stand of colours preparing for the regiment towards the end of 1830, this device and motto were omitted. Colonel O’Malley immediately wrote to the Adjutant-General representing the case, and the strong wishes of the regiment for its retention, for the consideration of the Commander-in-Chief. His application was successful, and obtained distinct authority for the corps to continue the use of the badge to which it was so strongly and so reasonably attached. The Adjutant-General, in a letter dated from the Horse-Guards, 30th of December, 1830, says—
“Sir,
“I have had the honour to submit to the General Commanding-in-Chief your letter of the 22nd instant with its enclosures, and am directed to acquaint you, that under the circumstances therein stated, his Lordship has been pleased to obtain his Majesty’s permission, that the Eighty-Eighth Regiment, or ‘Connaught Rangers,’ may retain on its colours and appointments the Harp and Crown, with the motto ‘Quis separabit?’ in addition to the badges and devices which it has been authorized to bear in commemoration of its distinguished services on various occasions.
“I have, &c.,
“John Macdonald, A.G.
“Colonel O’Malley, Eighty-Eighth Regiment.”