‘His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, having ordered the 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade to be removed from this garrison and district to Aldershot, Major-General Sir James Scarlett cannot allow the Corps to quit his command without doing them that justice which is due to them, in expressing his great regret in parting with them, and offering his best thanks to Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Alexander Russell, and the officers and the men under his command, for the orderly and soldier-like conduct of the Battalion during the period they have served in this garrison (excelled by no Corps in smartness in the field and in quarters). The conduct of both officers and men has been such as to make their departure felt as a great loss, both in a military and a social point of view. They carry with them the best wishes of the Major-General wherever their duty may lead them; and he believes his feelings towards them are shared by both the civil and the military members of the garrison and the district.

‘By order,
‘(Signed) J. C. Thackwell, A.A.G.’

Their old companion-in-arms, Sir Harry Smith, having died in London on October 12, was succeeded as Colonel-Commandant of the Battalion by their former Lieutenant-Colonel, Major-General Sir George Buller, K.C.B.

The 2nd Battalion remained at Lucknow till January 3 in this year, when they marched en route for Delhi by the following route:

Jan. 3toBunteerah10 miles.
4 ”Nawabgunge12 ”
5 ”Oonao13 ”
6 ”Cawnpore12 ”

Here they halted until the 19th, when, being relieved by the 52nd, they marched for Subathoo, to which station their destination was changed:

Jan. 19toKullianpore8 miles.
20 ”Chobeepore8 ”
21 ”Poorah12 ”
22 ”Urrowl13·3”
23 ”Meeran-ke-Serai9·5”
24 ”Goorsuhagunge13·3”
25 ”Chubramow14·5”
27 ”Bewar13·3”
28 ”Sultangunge14·6”
29 ”Kurrowlee8·3”
30 ”Mullown12 ”
31 ”Eytah11·1”
Feb. 2”Bhudwas12·5”
3 ”Secundra Rao9·2”
4 ”Akburabad10·3”
6 ”Allygurh13·6”
7 ”Somnagunge14·2”
8 ”Khoorja13·4”
9 ”Chorla8 ”
10 ”Secundrabad10·3”
11 ”Dadree10·1”
12 ”Gazeeoodeenuggur11·4”
13 ”Delhi12·4”
They halted at Delhi till the 18th, when, resuming their march,
they proceededtoAllypoor10·6miles.
Feb. 19toRaie10 ”
20 ”Lursowlee11·2”
21 ”Sumalka10·4”
22 ”Paneeput11·4”
23 ”Gourrunda9·6”
24 ”Kurnal11·1”
26 ”Bootanah10·6”
27 ”Peeplie8·7”
28 ”Shahabad13·3”
29 ”Umballa13 ”

Leaving the left wing, 5 companies under Lieutenant-Colonel Fyers, at Umballa for target practice, the Head-quarters marched on March 2 for Subathoo, where they arrived on the 7th; and where the left wing joined them on the 30th. The Battalion had thus made a march of more than 440 miles, from Lucknow to Subathoo.

Here they remained until December, when, marching in three divisions on the 4th, 6th, and 12th, they arrived at Umballa on the 8th, 13th, and 16th respectively, and were there stationed for musketry instruction and target practice.

The 3rd Battalion remained at Agra during the whole of this year.

The 4th Battalion remained at Malta during this year.

In the latter part of this year the Regiment received a cloth shako of a new pattern, that known by the name of the ‘Albert shako’ being discontinued.