1824
On quitting the islands of Jersey and Guernsey in April, 1824, the regiment received a vote of thanks and approbation from the principal inhabitants and public functionaries of the former, and a similar document from the Royal Court of the latter, expressing their high sense and admiration of its discipline, and of the peaceful and orderly behaviour of the non-commissioned officers and soldiers. The regiment embarked from Jersey and Guernsey in April, and proceeded to Plymouth, to relieve the sixty-first foot.
In June His Majesty approved of the regiment assuming, as a regimental badge, the Duke of Albany’s Cipher and Coronet, to be borne on the regimental colour.
From Plymouth, the regiment embarked for Scotland on the 31st of August: it landed at Newhaven on the 13th of September, and was met on the beach by its Colonel, Lieut.-General Sir John Hope, who marched into Edinburgh Castle at its head: the regiment afterwards sent detachments to Stirling, Fort William, and Dumbarton.
1825
New colours having been prepared for the Duke of Albany’s Own Highlanders, the regiment was assembled at Bruntsfield Links, on the 1st of August, 1825, under Lieut.-Colonel Calvert. The new colours were presented to the Colonel, Lieut.-General Sir John Hope, by Lady Hope, with a suitable address; they were afterwards consecrated by the Chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Moon, in an eloquent prayer, in which he implored the God of Battles ever to crown them with honour and victory; Sir John Hope then presented them to the regiment, which was formed in square to receive them, and said:—
“In delivering to your charge these colours, which have been presented to the SEVENTY-SECOND regiment by Lady Hope, I am fully aware that I am not addressing a newly-raised corps, whose name and character have yet to be acquired. As it has pleased His Majesty to confer so distinguished an honour on the regiment, as to permit the SEVENTY-SECOND to assume the name of the Duke of Albany’s Own Highlanders, I cannot omit congratulating the corps on having received so flattering and honorable a mark of approbation, and expressing my conviction, that this additional badge, which is now placed on these colours, will afford a new and powerful inducement for maintaining the high character which the SEVENTY-SECOND regiment has so long and so deservedly possessed. I feel particularly gratified that the honour of delivering these colours has devolved on me, and that their presentation should also have taken place in the capital of the country where the regiment was first raised, and after its return from a long period of honorable and distinguished service. The country being now at peace, there is no opportunity for the SEVENTY-SECOND to gain fresh honours by victories in the field; but the regiment may deserve and obtain almost equal honour and credit by setting an example of discipline and good conduct on home service, which becomes now particularly incumbent when so highly distinguished by being named after His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, to whom the whole army is indebted for the present state of order and discipline to which it has attained. That the SEVENTY-SECOND will ever continue to deserve the approbation of His Royal Highness I make no doubt: and I have now to offer my most sincere good wishes for the prosperity of the corps collectively, and of every individual officer, non-commissioned officer, and private soldier of the regiment.”
Towards the end of July, routes were received for marching to Port Patrick, for embarkation for Ireland; and before quitting Edinburgh, the regiment received the thanks of the Lord Provost and Magistrates for its exemplary conduct; it landed at Donaghadee on the 26th of August; and the head-quarters were established at Belfast.
1826
1827
In September, 1826, the regiment marched to Londonderry, from whence nineteen detachments were sent out; and in May, 1827, the detachments were called in, and the whole proceeded to Dublin.