During the election at Canterbury in February, 1841, the regiment was quartered at Deal, Sandwich, and Walmer; and when the general election took place in June, it occupied Whitstable, Herne Bay, and Margate, where it received a vote of thanks from the inhabitants for its orderly and exemplary conduct.
On the 11th of May the regiment was inspected, mounted, by His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, who was pleased to express in very strong terms, to Lieut.-Colonel Brunton, his approbation of the appearance and forward state of training of both men and horses. On this occasion nearly one half of the men present had joined as recruits since the return of the regiment from India (ten months), and all were mounted on young horses, which had been bought and trained during that time.
The friendship of the "ragged brigade," which had commenced with, and had continued throughout the eventful careers of the two regiments in the Peninsula, was cemented afresh by the arrival of the Fourteenth at Canterbury, to prepare for service in India; when the Fourteenth presented the regiment with their handsome mess tables, to perpetuate in the Thirteenth a kindly remembrance of their old companions in arms.
Lieut.-Colonel Brunton's exertions to complete the regiment in men and horses had been attended with the most favourable results; and having attained a state of efficiency, it marched, in August, to Ipswich and Norwich, crossing the Thames at Gravesend.
1842
In January, 1842, on the occasion of the visit of the King of Prussia to England to attend the christening of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, the regiment was removed to Hampton Court and Slough; and on the 4th of February the troops at the former place marched, during the night, to Woolwich, and were present in the morning at a review of the artillery previous to the embarkation of the King of Prussia. The regiment returned from Hampton Court and Slough to Ipswich and Norwich.
The Thirteenth regiment of Light Dragoons, during its long and faithful services to its sovereign and country in various quarters of the globe, has, in peace and in war, under every circumstance of service, vicissitude of climate, and the trials incident thereto, distinguished itself by the display of those qualities which ever acquire unfading laurels in the field of action, and gain respect and esteem for the British soldier.
SIC "VIRET IN ÆTERNUM."