On the 1st of August 1839, Lieut.-General John Ross was appointed, from the ninety-eighth, to be Colonel of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment, in succession to Lieut.-General Sir John Keane, who was removed to the forty-third regiment.
1841
The depôt companies embarked at Plymouth for Jersey on the 5th of August 1839; and in June 1841 proceeded to Ireland.
1842
On the 20th of January 1842, the service companies embarked at Gibraltar for Barbadoes, in the "Java" transport, and arrived at their destination on the 25th of February. They were afterwards encamped on the Savannah until the 18th of April. Upon the embarkation of the fifty-second regiment, the FORTY-SIXTH moved into the Stone Barracks, but, on the fever breaking out, encamped on the 2nd of December at the Naval Hospital.
1843
On the 15th of January, 1843, the head-quarters, under the command of Captain Child, embarked on board the "Dee" steamer for St. Vincent, where they arrived on the 16th of that month, and marched to Fort Charlotte. The other companies were stationed at St. Lucia, Dominica, and Berbice.
The grenadier company at Berbice suffered severely from yellow fever, and also the head-quarters, which were compelled to leave Fort Charlotte, and encamp at Townan's-pasture, about three miles distant.
Her Majesty was pleased to appoint General the Earl of Stair, from the ninety-second, to be Colonel of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment, on the 31st of May, 1843, in succession to Lieut.-General John Ross, C.B., deceased.
1844