Lieut.-General Sir Colin Halkett, K.C.B. and G.C.H., was appointed from the seventy-first regiment to the Colonelcy of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, on the 28th of March, 1838, in succession to General Sir Edward Barnes, G.C.B., deceased.
On the 16th of November the THIRTY-FIRST marched towards Ghazeepore, to relieve the forty-fourth regiment, and occupied the barracks at that station on the 27th of that month. Ghazeepore stands at the edge of a fine plain on the left bank of the Ganges, close to the river. It is one of the frontier posts towards Nepaul, is forty-six miles from Benares, and four hundred and six miles from Calcutta.
1839
The strength of the regiment had been reduced to six hundred and thirty-two rank and file; it had at this period been fourteen years in India, during which time the casualties by death amounted to fourteen officers, and six hundred and seventy-seven men.
During this year the regiment remained cantoned at Ghazeepore, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Bolton; and was constantly on the alert in expectation to march towards Nepaul to repel the incursions of the Nepaulese.
On the 3rd of April, 1839, the regiment was augmented to an establishment of ten companies, consisting of one colonel, two lieut.-colonels, two majors, ten captains, thirty subalterns, six staff, fifty-seven serjeants, nineteen drummers, and nine hundred and seventy-six rank and file.
On the 13th of May, 1839, the regiment was inspected by Major-General Cocks, of the Honorable East India Company’s Service, who expressed, in high terms, his approbation of its appearance.
Ghazeepore was found very unhealthy during the rains, and the regiment suffered severely, both in officers and men, from fever and dysentery.
1840
The regiment remained at Ghazeepore until the 12th of October, 1840, when orders were received to march to Agra, to relieve the ninth foot. It arrived at Agra on the 30th of November, and its effectives amounted to forty-one serjeants, and seven hundred rank and file.