The regiment embarked in His Majesty's troop ship, "Romney," on the 15th October,—sailed on the next day,—and anchored on the 26th, after a very stormy passage, in the harbour of Valetta, under those stupendous fortifications which had been rendered famous by the prowess of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, and had for some generations been designated by the proud title of "the Bulwarks of Christendom:"—it disembarked without any accident or casualty on the 27th of the same month,—and for a short time occupied Fort Manoel.
The colour of the regimental facings was this year authorized by the subjoined letter to be changed to a handsome and lively green, viz.:—
"Horse-Guards, 30th June, 1834.
"Sir,
"With reference to the correspondence that has taken place respecting the Colour of the Facing of the Fifth Regiment of Foot, of which you are Colonel, I have now the honour to acquaint you, that the Colour of the pattern exhibited by Lieutenant-Colonel Sutherland, with your sanction, has been approved by the King, and the General Commanding-in-Chief desires that the clothing of the regiment for the ensuing year may therefore be prepared accordingly.
"I have, &c.
(Signed) "John Macdonald,
"Adjutant-General.
"General Sir Henry Johnson, Bt., and G.C.B.
"Colonel of the Fifth Foot."
In September of this year (1834) the reserve companies marched from Templemore to Cork, where they remained ten months.
1835
General Sir Henry Johnson, Bart., G.C.B., having died on the 18th of March, 1835, at a very advanced age, was succeeded in the Colonelcy of the regiment, on the 25th of the same month, by Lieutenant-General the Honourable Sir Charles Colville, G.C.B. and G.C.H., who with much distinction, and especially in the affair at El Bodon, commanded the brigade in which the Fifth served during a considerable period of the Peninsular war.