“Again must Lord Gough express the gratification it affords him thus to be able to record his opinion of their merits; and both these corps are assured that their correct conduct in quarters, and almost total absence of crime for many years, have mainly conduced to the gallant achievements in the field to which their good fortune has afforded them the opportunity to contribute.
“That every happiness and welfare may hereafter attend these regiments, is the Commander-in-Chief’s ardent desire, for he must ever feel the warmest interest in the career of such highly distinguished regiments.
“The Commander-in-Chief congratulates the two officers, Lieut.-Colonel MacDowell, C.B., and Lieut.-Colonel Spence, who accompanied their regiments to India nearly a quarter of a century ago, upon now having the honor and gratification of commanding them, after such distinguished services, on their return to their native land. Lieut.-Colonel MacDowell has never left India since his first arrival.
“By order of His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief.
(Signed) “H. G. Smith, Major-General,
“Adjutant-General to the Forces in India.”
The regiment embarked for England, the left wing under the command of Lieutenant Plaskett, on board the ‘Plantagenet,’ on the 2nd of August, 1846, consisting of 5 officers, 12 serjeants, 4 drummers, and 102 rank and file, 10 women and 10 children. The head-quarters, or right wing, embarked on board the ‘Madagascar’ on the 3rd of August, 1846, under the command of Major Staunton, and consisted of 10 officers, 19 serjeants, 7 drummers, and 194 rank and file, 21 women, and 32 children. Unfortunately, as the ‘Plantagenet’ was putting out to sea, she sprung a leak, and was obliged to return to Calcutta with all speed, the pumps being worked night and day by the soldiers, without whose assistance she must have gone down: they succeeded in bringing her safe into dock, there being then above seven feet of water in the hold. This detachment again embarked in the same ship on the 29th of August, and arrived in England on the 13th of January, 1847, having lost on the passage seven men. The ‘Madagascar,’ with head-quarters, arrived in England on the 5th of December, and lost on the passage Lieutenant Richard Sparrow and five soldiers.
After a voyage of four months, the surviving veterans of the regiment were gladdened with the sight of the shores of their native land. The head-quarters of the regiment reached Gravesend on the 4th of December, 1846; and on the 6th disembarked and marched to Chatham. Nothing could exceed the enthusiasm of the public to welcome the arrival of this distinguished corps.
The following description of the reception the regiment met with on its arrival, is taken from the ‘Illustrated London News’ of December, 1846:—
“The Return of the THIRTY-FIRST Regiment from India.—On the 4th instant the head-quarters of this distinguished regiment arrived by the ship Madagascar from Calcutta, from which place they embarked on the 3rd of August last: they lost by deaths on the voyage five men and one officer, Lieut. Richard Sparrow. They brought home with them four captured colours, which they took in the short but brilliant campaign against the Sikhs. * * * On the evening of the 6th the head-quarters marched into Chatham garrison from Gravesend, by the Rochester and Gravesend Railway, where they were met by the very superior band of the royal marines. On the arrival at the Rochester terminus, the band struck up, ‘God save the Queen,’ and these heroes of the Sutlej were greeted by hundreds of people with loud and repeated huzzas. The soldiers, in return for this spirited welcome, waved the four colours captured from the enemy, one at Ferozeshah, one at Aliwal, and two taken at Sobraon. These banners bear testimony of the severe engagements. The Queen’s colour, and the regimental colour, are complete fragments. The head-quarters were also accompanied by the depôt band, which played at intervals in passing with the regiment through the streets of Rochester and Chatham, and were greeted along the whole line by thousands of people who assembled to witness their return.
“Out of the 215 men landed from the Madagascar there are but 80 unwounded. Lieut.-Colonel Spence, and Quarter-master Benison, are the only officers, now with the regiment, who went out with it in the ‘Kent’ East Indiaman, which took fire and sank in the Bay of Biscay.