On the 20th of February, 1837, the regiment was inspected, preparatory to its return to England, by Lieut.-General Sir Samford Whittingham, who stated in a letter to Lieut.-Colonel Sir Michael Creagh, that he had “reported the Eighty-sixth, as about to embark for England, after ten years’ service in the West Indies, in a state of hardy, soldier-like efficiency, fit, if necessary, for immediate service in the field: a circumstance alike creditable to the commanding officer and to the corps.” On the embarkation of the regiment, on the 21st of March, the following appeared in general orders:—“The Lieutenant-General Commanding the Forces, having in person witnessed the embarkation of the Eighty-sixth Regiment this morning, it gives him sincere satisfaction to express in general orders his acknowledgements of the soldier-like and orderly manner in which it was conducted. The arrangements were perfect, and the whole proceeding reflects the highest credit on Lieut.-Colonel Sir Michael Creagh, the officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers, of the Royal County Down Regiment. They carry with them the Lieut.-General’s best wishes for their future honour and welfare.”
In May the service companies arrived at Chatham, having sustained a loss of five officers, and two hundred and ninety-nine soldiers, during the period they had been absent from Great Britain, and bringing back four hundred and twenty-four effective men. The depôt companies arrived at Chatham from Ireland, on the following day[14].
On the 24th of May, Lieut.-General Watson was removed to the Fourteenth Foot, and was succeeded by Lieut.-General Sir Arthur Brooke, K.C.B.
In June the regiment marched to Weedon, where it was inspected on the 8th of August by General Lord Hill, Commanding-in-Chief, who expressed to Lieut.-Colonel Sir Michael Creagh, in front of the regiment, his approbation of the highly efficient state of the corps, after so long a service in the West Indies.
After the inspection, the regiment marched into Lancashire, and occupied Salford-barracks, Manchester, detaching one company to the Isle of Man. During the Chartist disturbances, the Eighty-sixth were much employed, and frequently received the thanks of Major-General Sir Charles Napier, and Colonel Wemyss.
1838
1839
1840
In April, 1838, the head-quarters and flank companies were removed to Stockport, in Cheshire; but returned to Manchester, in June, 1839; and in June, 1840, the regiment embarked at Liverpool for Ireland, and landed at Belfast; in September it was removed to Dublin.
1841
The regiment was employed in the summer of 1841, at Templemore, Clonmel, Cork, and other places, aiding the civil power in the preservation of the public peace, during the election of members of parliament, and were particularly thanked for their conduct and forbearance.