The regiment proceeded from Walmer to Portsmouth on the 27th April, 1846. Previous to the march of the Thirteenth, a high testimonial of their conduct, while stationed at Walmer, was received from the Mayor and Magistrates of Deal. On Thursday, the 13th August, the Thirteenth had the gratification of being presented with new colours by His Royal Highness the Prince Albert. The “United Service Gazette” of Saturday, the 15th August, gave the following account of this interesting ceremony, which took place on Southsea Common:—‘His Royal Highness Prince Albert, wearing a Field Marshal’s uniform, came over from Osborne-house in the royal yacht, accompanied by Colonel Wylde and a small retinue, all in uniform, and landed at the King’s-stairs, in the Dockyard, at about a quarter to four o’clock. The Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Sir Charles Ogle, Bart., the Lieut.-Governor, Major-General the Hon. Sir Hercules Pakenham, K.C.B., and a brilliant staff of officers of both services, received his Royal Highness on landing, who immediately entered General Pakenham’s carriage, and was driven to the field, escorted by General Pakenham and staff on horseback, receiving the shouts of welcome from the immense concourse of spectators who lined the road as he passed. Soon after three o’clock, the regiment took up its position on Southsea Common, in line, at open order, with the old colours in the centre. On the arrival of the Prince he was received with the customary honors. The regiment then formed three sides of a hollow square, the company told off as a guard for the new colours remaining in the centre of the open face. The Prince having alighted from the carriage, mounted his charger (which, together with five other beautiful animals, came down from the Royal mews to the George Hotel last night), rode along the line, inside and out, inspecting the troops, as they covered the ground, after which the Prince dismounted and entered the hollow square, accompanied by General Pakenham, Sir Charles Ogle, and staff, and stood uncovered while the Rev. G. R. Gleig, Chaplain General to the Forces, consecrated the colours, which, after this ceremony, were handed to the Prince by Lieut.-Colonel C. T. Van Straubenzee and Major Meredith. The Prince then handed them to the two senior ensigns (J. D. Longden and Melville Browne), who received them kneeling, and continued in that position whilst His Royal Highness addressed them in a brief but most spirited and soldierly manner, enjoining them to preserve their colours, never to allow them to be captured, but to emulate the conduct exhibited by the departed hero, Sir Robert Sale, whose absence was the only alloy to the gratification he felt in performing the august ceremony of the day. His Highness, in the course of his address, passed some high and well-deserved encomiums on Colonel Squire and the Thirteenth regiment, to which that gallant veteran replied—“I beg most respectfully to return my most sincere though humble thanks for the distinguished honor your Royal Highness has just conferred upon this corps in the presentation of new colours, and for the highly flattering manner in which your Royal Highness has been pleased to mention my name, in connection with its services in India, and also for the gratifying encomiums which you have passed on our late honored and respected Commanders, Sir Robert Sale and Colonel Dennie. Your Highness may be assured that your gracious condescension will ever be esteemed by all ranks in the regiment as the greatest stimulant to the loyal and faithful discharge of their duty, under whatever circumstances of trial they may hereafter be placed, in supporting the honor and interest of our beloved Queen and country. God save the Queen!”
‘His Highness appeared much gratified with the sentiments of the gallant Colonel, and having bowed, retired with General Pakenham and Sir Charles Ogle, and remounted his charger. The sides of the square which were wheeled up then wheeled back, and the regiment formed a line. The new colours were now “trooped,” followed by the guard in charge, the band playing “The Grenadiers,” slow march.
‘On arriving at the left of the line, the colours were carried, and the officers marched up in the front of the line, one rank of the guard marching between the ranks of the line, and the other rank in rear of the rear rank. On arriving at the place where the old colours were stationed, the new colours took up their place, whilst the old ones were paraded up the remaining portion of the line, the “trooping” still proceeding, and were then delivered over to the escort on the right of the line; their military existence, as standards of the regiment, then ceasing.
‘The ceremony having terminated, the Prince re-entered the carriage of General Pakenham, and, accompanied by Admiral Sir Charles Ogle, Bart., and escorted by General Pakenham and staff, returned to the Dockyard, whence he embarked for Osborne-house, under salutes from the ships in harbour, the Platform Battery, and the Contest, Columbine, and Sardinian corvette at Spithead. A magnificent entertainment was given in honor of the event in the evening, by the officers of the Thirteenth, at the King’s rooms, Southsea-beach.’
On the 3rd November, 1846, Lieut.-Colonel Squire retired from the service, and Lieut.-Colonel A. A. T. Cunynghame succeeded to the command of the regiment; in the following month he exchanged with Captain and Lieut.-Colonel Charles Stuart, of the Grenadier Guards.
1847
The regiment proceeded from Portsmouth to Ireland in two divisions, on the 12th and 13th January, 1847, and arrived at Dublin on the 16th of that month. Towards the end of September it proceeded to Birr.
1848
On the 18th of April, 1848, the regiment marched from Birr to Newry, and on the 1st of June, to which period the Record has been continued, the head-quarters, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Charles Stuart, remained at Newry, two companies being stationed at Drogheda, and four companies being distributed at Belturbet, Carrickmacross, Dundalk, and Monaghan.