The Head-quarters reached Malta on March 11, and immediately disembarked and occupied quarters in the Rope-walk barracks, where they found the two companies, from the ‘Himalaya,’ who had arrived previously.
On the 17th the Battalion was inspected by Major-General Ferguson. And on the 23rd it paraded in review order for the inspection of the French General Canrobert.
On the 30th the Battalion embarked on board the S.S. ‘Golden Fleece,’ with the exception of Captain Newdigate’s[221] company, which (for want of room) proceeded in the ‘Sir George Pollock’ sailing transport.
This expedition was commanded by their former Lieutenant-Colonel, Sir George Brown, who, with his Staff, was on board the ‘Golden Fleece.’
On April 6 the Battalion arrived at Gallipoli, and disembarked on the 8th. And each company as soon as assembled on shore, marching eight miles to Balahar, near the Gulf of Xeros, there encamped. The Riflemen were employed until the 21st in making roads and digging wells. On the 18th two regiments came up from Gallipoli and formed brigade with the Battalion, of which Colonel Lawrence took command. From the 21st the Riflemen were employed in the construction of the English half of the Lines, from the Gulf of Xeros to the centre of the position.
On May 6 the Battalion marched to Gallipoli; and after having been inspected by Sir George Brown with General Canrobert and Prince Napoleon, re-embarked on board the ‘Golden Fleece.’ They arrived on the 7th at Scutari, and having disembarked on the 9th occupied part of the new barracks until the 11th, when they pitched camp between the Hospital and the barracks, having been obliged to turn out of the barracks, on account of the fleas by which they were infested.
On the 18th an order was received for the augmentation of this Battalion (as well as the 1st) to twelve companies.
At this time the Light Division was formed under the command of Sir George Brown, and the Battalion was attached to it.
On the 25th being the celebration of the Queen’s birthday, the Division was reviewed by the Sultan and Lord Raglan Commanding the forces. On the 29th the Battalion re-embarked on board the ‘Golden Fleece’ and proceeded to Varna, where they arrived on the following day; and on disembarking, the brigade encamped outside the town near the Shumla gate, the Battalion being nearest to the town.
On June 5 the Battalion marched to Aladyn nine miles on the road to Shumla, where they encamped on a hill with a lake in front and another in rear. And on the 30th marched to Devna seven miles further inland, where they encamped on a plateau near a marsh of some extent. On July 23 the Battalion was reinforced by a draft of 1 subaltern (Lieutenant Churchill), 2 sergeants and 150 rank and file, who arrived from England. On the next day, cholera having appeared in the Division, the Battalion marched four miles further to Monastir, where it encamped on an elevated plateau in hopes of finding healthier quarters. But without success; as on the 27th the scourge broke out in the Battalion, and two Riflemen died. And many others were ill. The men, probably to divert their attention, were engaged in learning to make fascines and gabions.