On January 4 the 4th Battalion at Montreal received the breech-loading short Snider, in place of the Whitworth rifle.
On September 5 the Battalion left Montreal, and on the next day embarked on board the Troop-ship ‘Serapis,’and started for England. They arrived at Portsmouth on the 17th, and disembarked on the 18th, five companies with Head-quarters proceeding to Chichester, and three companies to Winchester, whence the Depôt companies joined Head-quarters. The Battalion made but a short stay in the south of England; for on December 23 the three companies at Winchester, with one from Chichester, moved to Weedon. And on the 26th the Head-quarters and remaining six companies followed, arriving at Weedon on the next day. Three companies were detached to Leeds, and one to Northampton.
The Head-quarters of the 1st Battalion continued at Ottawa during the year 1868, where the companies remaining at Quebec joined on June 6.
In consequence of the proceedings of the Fenians in the United States, one company of the Battalion proceeded to Coburg on October 1, and was followed by two other companies on the 5th.
The 2nd Battalion continued at Devonport during the whole year 1868.
On January 10 the 3rd Battalion left Rawul Pindee, and began its march to Moradabad and Seetapore. The left wing marched into quarters at Moradabad on March 14, and the right wing and Head-quarters at Seetapore on the 30th.
On November 30 the left wing, under Captain Moore, left Moradabad, and marched into quarters at Dinapore on December 14.
The 4th Battalion continued at Weedon, Leeds and Northampton, and furnished yet another detachment of one company to Warwick on January 14. The company at Northampton, however, joining Head-quarters at Weedon on February 7.
On May 21 the Head-quarters and five companies proceeded to Chester, and were quartered in the Castle; and the detachments from Leeds and Warwick joining the company left at Weedon formed the left wing, and were quartered there.
The Colonel-in-Chief, Sir Edward Blakeney, died on August 2, and the Regiment had the honour of receiving as his successor General His Royal Highness Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, who was appointed Colonel-in-Chief August 3.