The Fourth advanced with the army in pursuit of the enemy, and were present at the surrender of Paris on the 7th of July. They were afterwards encamped at Neuilly; on the 27th of October they went into quarters at St. Germain-en-Laye; and being selected to form part of the British contingent of the army of occupation appointed to remain in France, they were formed in brigade with the fifty-second and seventy-ninth regiments, under Major-General Sir Denis Pack. On this occasion the Duke of Wellington observed in general orders:—
"Upon breaking up the army which the field marshal has had the honour of commanding, he begs leave again to return thanks to the general officers, and the officers and troops, for their uniform good conduct. In the late short but memorable campaign they have given proofs to the world that they possess in an eminent degree all the good qualities of soldiers; and the field marshal is happy to be able to applaud their regular good conduct in their camps and cantonments, not less than when engaged with the enemy in the field. Whatever may be the future destination of those brave troops of which the field marshal now takes his leave, he trusts that every individual will believe that he will ever feel the deepest interest in their honour and welfare, and will be happy to promote either."
Major-General Lambert, also, in taking leave of the Fourth, expressed his approbation of their conduct, particularly at the "ever memorable battle of Waterloo, which afforded him an opportunity of personally observing that the high character the King's Own always bore in the field has been most justly merited."
In consequence of a reduction in the army, the second battalion transferred its private men to the first, and was disbanded at Deal on the 25th of December, 1815.
1816
In January, 1816, the regiment was quartered at Franquemberg and adjacent villages in the Pas de Calais, where it was presented with a new pair of colours. In August it encamped near St. Omer, and was reviewed on the 7th of September by the Duke of Wellington, who expressed his approbation of its appearance and discipline.
On the 15th of October, the Fourth quitted the vicinity of St. Omer, and encamping near Mastaing, was reviewed on the 22d with the remainder of the British, Danish, and Saxon forces, on the plain of St. Denain, by their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of Kent and Cambridge; the regiment afterwards returned to Franquemberg, &c.; and its establishment was reduced to forty officers, forty-five serjeants, twenty-two drummers, and eight hundred rank and file.
1817
The regiment again pitched its tents in July, 1817, near St. Omer, where it was reviewed on the 5th of August by Lieut.-General Lord Hill; on the 3d of September it encamped on the glacis of Valenciennes, and on the 6th it was reviewed with the remainder of the army commanded by the Duke of Wellington, by the King of Prussia.
Having been again reviewed by Lord Hill on the 20th of September, and having received the expressions of his lordship's approbation, the regiment went into barracks at Valenciennes; but it was again encamped in October, near St. Denain, and reviewed, with the remainder of the British, Saxon, Danish, and Hanoverian troops in France, by his grace the Duke of Wellington, on which occasion all the evolutions of an engagement were performed in presence of a number of distinguished personages. The King's Own subsequently returned to their former winter quarters at Franquemberg, &c.