The regiment left Barbadoes in March, 1821, when seven companies proceeded to Demerara, under Major Leahy, and three to Berbice, under Major Champion. Previous to its quitting Barbadoes, Major-General Mainwaring expressed in orders, "the high sense he entertained of the zeal and ability of Major Leahy, of the steady conduct of the officers and non-commissioned officers, and of the good and orderly behaviour of the men."
In August, the regiment sustained a severe loss in the death of Lieut.-Colonel John M. Nooth, C.B.: he was succeeded in the command by Lieut.-Colonel John Thomas Leahy.
1823
Insurrectionary movements having been made by the negroes in the district of Mahaica, in the island of Demerara, in August, 1823, the TWENTY-FIRST FUSILIERS, under Lieut.-Colonel Leahy, were employed in reducing the revolted slaves to obedience, in which they succeeded. For their excellent conduct on this occasion, the TWENTY-FIRST received the thanks of Lieut.-General Sir Henry Ward, K.C.B., commanding in the Windward and Leeward Islands; of the Court of Policy of the Colony; of His Royal Highness the Duke of York, the Commander-in-chief; and of His Majesty King George IV.
1824
From Demerara the head-quarters were removed to St. Vincent, in January, 1824, and received the thanks of Major-General Murray, previous to embarking. At the same time the Court of Policy voted, as a special and permanent mark of the high estimation in which the inhabitants of the Colony held the services of Lieut.-Colonel Leahy, the officers and soldiers, "FIVE HUNDRED GUINEAS TO BE LAID OUT IN THE PURCHASE OF PLATE FOR THE REGIMENTAL MESS," and TWO HUNDRED GUINEAS FOR THE PURCHASE OF A SWORD FOR LIEUT.-COLONEL LEAHY; also FIFTY GUINEAS FOR THE PURCHASE OF A SWORD FOR LIEUTENANT BRADY, who commanded a detachment at Mahaica, and whose cool, steady, and intrepid conduct, aided by the courage and discipline of his men, gave an early and effectual check to the progress of revolt in that quarter.
In May, two companies were removed to Grenada.
1827
In December, 1826, and January, 1827, the regiment embarked from St. Vincent and Grenada, for England, after eight years' service in the West Indies, during which period it had lost, by disease, fourteen officers and four hundred men. Previous to quitting those colonies, it received the expression of the approbation and thanks of Admiral Sir Charles Brisbane, G.C.B., Governor of St. Vincent; of the Council of that island; and of the Commander of the forces in the Windward and Leeward Islands. It landed at Cowes, in the Isle of Wight, in January, February, and March, and was removed to Windsor, where it had the honor of doing duty during His Majesty's residence at that place.
1828