They received orders to prepare for embarkation for Gibraltar, and two companies were selected to form the Depôt.
On November 7 Captain Dugdale’s company embarked on board Her Majesty’s Troop-ship ‘Tamar’ for Gibraltar. And on the 16th and 17th the remaining companies of the Battalion embarked at Portsmouth on board Her Majesty’s Troop-ship ‘Simoom,’ and sailed for Gibraltar, where they arrived on the 24th, and on disembarkation were encamped at the North front until the 28th, when they moved to Buena Vista barracks, and were there quartered.
The total strength on disembarkation was 18 officers, 40 sergeants, 40 corporals, 17 buglers, and 585 private Riflemen.
The 3rd Battalion moved from Winchester and Portsmouth by rail-road on March 13, and occupied quarters in the Permanent barracks with the 1st Battalion. They took part in the summer drills held this year in June and July, and were encamped at Woolmer forest from the 20th to the 29th of the latter month. During the June drills the Battalion, with the 1st Battalion, one of the 60th, and a Militia battalion, formed a brigade commanded by Lord Alexander Russell.
The 4th Battalion remained at Umballa during this year, with the exception that, in consequence of an outbreak of fever at Umballa, they were moved out under canvas to camp at Jundlee, and afterwards nearer Umballa, from November 18 to December 12.
On February 24 and 25 they had been inspected by Major-General Percy Hill, and on August 8 by Lord Napier of Magdala, Commander-in-Chief in India.
The 1st Battalion continued at Winchester during the year 1875, moving to Aldershot for the summer manœuvres.
The 2nd Battalion remained at Gibraltar during the whole of the year.
Lieutenant-Colonel Nixon, commanding the 3rd Battalion, died near Aldershot on March 31, 1875. He had served in the Regiment twenty-eight years, and had accompanied the 2nd Battalion to the Crimea and India, and I have recorded his services and gallantry at Cawnpore and Lucknow, and with the Camel Corps, and the approval of those in command which they elicited. He was deservedly and universally esteemed by his brother officers, and his sudden premature death excited sincere regret. His funeral on April 5, at Hale Church, near Aldershot, was attended not only by the officers of the 1st Battalion, who also sent their band from Winchester, but by many old Riflemen. He was succeeded in the command of the Battalion by Lieutenant-Colonel Maclean, who was promoted from Senior Major.
This Battalion, after taking part in the summer drill and manœuvres near Aldershot in the months of June and July, including a review and march-past for the Sultan of Zanzibar before his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, left Aldershot on July 27 for Chatham, where it occupied St. Mary’s barracks, detaching (in November) one company to Upnor Castle.