The regiment was assembled at Birr, in June, 1827, and in July marched to Richmond Barracks, Dublin, where it was divided into six service and four depôt companies; the service companies embarked in October for Liverpool, from whence they proceeded by canal to Fenny Stratford, and afterwards marched to Chatham.
1828
On the 30th of June, 1828, the service companies, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel G. E. P. Barlow, embarked from Gravesend for the island of Ceylon where, they arrived in November, and landed at Colombo.
Lieut.-General Sir Edward Barnes inspected the Sixty-first on their arrival at Ceylon, and inserted the following statement, in his own hand-writing, in the Record Book of the regiment:—
“Having inspected the Sixty-first Regiment, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Barlow, it affords me much gratification to place upon the Records of the Regiment an expression of my admiration of its appearance and high order,—of the coolness, celerity, and precision, with which it performed the several evolutions, and of its system of interior economy: such a state of things evinces the great ability, assiduity, and perseverance of the commanding officer, and the able support of Major Wolfe and the rest of the officers, and is in the highest degree creditable to the non-commissioned officers and soldiers; and greatly enhances the pleasure which I feel in the renewal of my long acquaintance with the Sixty-first Regiment, and adds very materially and essentially to my satisfaction in having it under my command.
“E. BARNES, Lieut.-General.
“Colombo, December 18, 1828.”
1833
1836
The depôt companies were withdrawn from Ireland in November, 1833, and proceeded to Chatham; they returned to Ireland in 1836.