No change took place in the quarters of the 1st Battalion during the year 1831; the Service companies continuing in New Brunswick, and the Depôt at Dover.
The Service companies of the 2nd Battalion remained at Malta during the whole of this year, and the Depôt continued at Dover.
Lieutenant-General Sir T. Sidney Beckwith, K.C.B., Colonel Commandant of the 2nd Battalion, died January 19, 1831, at the Mahabuleshwar hills, Bombay, of which Presidency he was Commander-in-Chief. He was the last of the original officers of the Regiment remaining in it.
The Head-quarters of the 1st Battalion with three companies left Fredericton in two divisions on August 14 and 17, 1832; and the whole of the Service companies embarked at St. John’s in H.M.S. ‘Winchester,’ and the ‘Arachne’ and ‘Chebucto,’ brigs, on the 21st and 22nd and disembarking at Halifax, Nova Scotia, were quartered in the North barracks.
The Depôt companies continued at Dover, furnishing a detachment for a short period to Shorncliffe.
On February 12 the Head-quarters of the 2nd Battalion with two companies embarked at Malta for Corfu, where they landed on the 19th, and on the 23rd the remaining six companies embarked, landing at Corfu, two on the 1st March and two on the 6th.
On April 6 the Battalion moved to the Island of Vido, sending out small parties to the Lazaretto Island, Paleo Castrizza, Fano and Paxo.
On August 1 the Battalion returned to Corfu, calling in these parties; but, shortly afterwards sending out a detachment to Cephalonia.
The Depôt of the 2nd Battalion remained at Dover.
On April 1 in this year a change was made in the clothing of the non-commissioned officers and private Riflemen, the coats being made double-breasted, instead of single-breasted as heretofore; black horn-buttons being substituted for white metal; and black lace and chevrons being adopted instead of those before worn by sergeants.