The 1st Battalion, continuing at Ottawa, on March 1 and 15, 1869, furnished parties of 200 men each time to dig out the mail-trains imbedded in snow between Montreal and Ottawa, the employés of the railway being insufficient for that purpose. The men carried their rations with them on these occasions.
On August 5 one company, and on the 17th a second company, proceeded by steamboat to Montreal on detachment. They were followed by the remainder of the Battalion in two divisions on September 9 and 10.
On October 8 His Royal Highness Prince Arthur joined the Service companies at Montreal, having been appointed Lieutenant on August 3.
On the 24th five companies of the 2nd Battalion, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Walker, embarked at Plymouth on board H.M.S. ‘Urgent’ for Portsmouth, and on arrival there marched to Aldershot, viâ Bishop’s Waltham and Alton.
And on the 14th the Head-quarters embarked on board H.M. Troop-ship ‘Simoom,’ and arriving at Portsmouth, on the 16th, proceeded by rail to Farnborough; and marching to Cove Common, there encamped until the 23rd, when they occupied huts in the North Camp at Aldershot.
On July 14 the Battalion marched to Chobham, forming part of a flying column, under Major-General Sir Alfred Horsford. They encamped there that night, and on the next day marched to Bushy Park, and encamped. Having taken part in a review at Wimbledon, they returned to Aldershot by the same route, and reached it on the 22nd, having taken part in a sham fight.
On August 18 the Battalion, forming part of a flying column under Colonel Elrington of the 4th Battalion, marched to Bramshill Park, and encamped there; they remained there during the 19th, and on the 20th returned to Aldershot, having taken part in a sham fight on Hartfordbridge Flats on their way. On October 1 the Glengarry cap was taken into wear, in place of the forage cap.
On January 7 the right wing and Head-quarters of the 3rd Battalion left Seetapore; and arriving at Dinapore on the 19th, marched into quarters on the 20th, and joined the left wing, which had arrived there from Moradabad in the previous month.
On May 17 two companies of the left wing of the 4th Battalion at Weedon left that station, proceeding by rail to Bicester, and thence marching by Oxford, Wallingford, and Reading to Aldershot, where they arrived on the 20th. Two other companies followed on June 2, proceeding by the same route, and (with the fifth company, which proceeded by rail, and joined them at Reading) arrived at Aldershot on the 5th.