Notwithstanding every effort made to cover the country, depredations were frequently committed, and a party of Kafirs having succeeded in stealing a quantity of cattle from a Dutch farmer, in the beginning of February, 1819, the circumstance was reported to Captain Gethin, who was stationed at De Bruins Drift. The captain instantly pursued the robbers, with a few soldiers, accompanied by a number of Dutch farmers, mounted and armed; he came up with the cattle in a country covered with thick underwood, and trusting to the support of the armed farmers, in the event of an attack, he entered the bush with a few men, and was proceeding to drive out the cattle, when the party in advance was surrounded and attacked by a number of Kafirs armed with spears and clubs. The captain and his small party made a determined resistance; but the farmers stood aloof, leaving the soldiers to perish. Captain Gethin was overpowered, and fell pierced with thirty-two wounds; one serjeant and one private soldier were also killed on this occasion. Captain Gethin was a highly respected, brave, and intelligent officer; he had distinguished himself in the Peninsular war, particularly at the siege of St. Sebastian, and had been rewarded with promotion; his death was much regretted.
1821
A detachment of the regiment continued on the frontiers, and took an active part in the border warfare with the Kafirs, whose predatory habits it was found difficult to restrain; the head-quarters remained at Cape Town, with detachments at Simon’s Town and Robben Island, until December, 1821, when it was relieved by the sixth regiment, and embarked for England. Two companies remained behind three months for the want of transport, and fifty soldiers of good character who had claims to pension, were permitted to settle in the country.
On the departure of the regiment from the Cape, the Governor, General Lord Charles Somerset, was pleased to express, in orders, his approbation of the conduct of the corps during its stay at that colony, and to add, that he should not fail to make known its excellent behaviour to the Commander-in-Chief, and to recommend it to His Royal Highness’s particular favour and protection.
1822
In March, 1822, the regiment landed at Portsmouth, from whence it proceeded to Fort Cumberland, and in May to Plymouth, where the two companies left at the Cape, joined in June. In July the regiment embarked for Woolwich, where it occupied part of the Horse Artillery barracks.
1823
The regiment was removed to the islands of Jersey and Guernsey in May, 1823.
Major-General Sir George Murray was removed to the forty-second, the Royal Highland regiment, in September, 1823, and was succeeded by Lieut.-General Sir John Hope from the ninety-second regiment.
The excellent conduct of the regiment on all occasions, which had procured for it the commendations of the general officers under whom it had served, had been repeatedly brought before the Commander-in-Chief, His Royal Highness the Duke of York and Albany, by the commanders of the colonies in which it had served, and had been communicated to His Majesty, King George IV., who was graciously pleased to authorise, on the 11th of December, 1823, its resuming the Highland Costume, with this difference, that the officers and men should wear trews instead of kilts: at the same time the King was pleased to approve of its assuming, as a special mark of royal favour and approbation, the title of the “Seventy-second, or the Duke of Albany’s Own Highlanders.”