General Orders
By His Excellency the Commander-in-chief.
“Head-Quarters, Calcutta,
27th January 1865.
“The services of the 71st Highland Light Infantry in India entitle them, on their departure for England, to honourable mention in general orders.
“A wing of the regiment on their arrival in India in 1858 joined the Central India Field Force, and His Excellency is therefore enabled to bear testimony to the good services which they performed, and the excellent spirit which they displayed during that campaign.
“The regiment more recently distinguished itself under their commanding officer, Colonel Hope, C.B., in the late operations on the frontier.
“Sir Hugh Rose cannot, in justice to military merit, speak of the 71st in a General Order without reverting to an earlier period, when in two great campaigns in Europe they won a reputation which has earned them an honoured page in history.
“Sir Hugh Rose’s best wishes attend this distinguished regiment on their leaving his command for home.
“By order of His Excellency the Commander-in-chief.
“E. Haythorn,
“Colonel, Adjutant-General.”
The depot companies, commanded by Brevet-Major Lambton, joined the regiment in Edinburgh, and the establishment of the regiment was fixed at 12 companies, with 54 sergeants, 31 buglers and pipers, and 700 rank and file.