Return to Bombay

In 1830 the regiment was again warned for service in the southern part of the Presidency, but the order was countermanded shortly afterwards. On 20th June 1831 King George IV died and was succeeded by the Duke of Clarence who became William IV. The occasion was suitably commemorated. In December the regiment returned to Bombay, spending Christmas on the march, and was again accommodated in the Fort George Barracks at Colaba. There was a call to action in 1832. On 7th June the Parsees provoked serious disturbances at the fort in Bombay and the Regiment was ordered there to restore order. The Regimental History records that “The Regiment was, on the alarm, instantly under arms, and in less than an hour from the receipt of the order was in the fort where, from their steady and soldier-like appearance, the Queen’s met no opposition from the rioters, who dispersed immediately.”

Sergeant, Battalion Company, 2nd or Queen's. c 1839 (Ghuznee) Click to enlarge		Sergeant, Light Company, 31st Regiment. c 1846 (Sobraon) Click to enlarge

The rapid march to get to the scene had not, however, been without casualties and two men died from their exertions. In 1833 the local Naval and Military Gazette reported on 10th August that the weather had become so hot in Bombay that the 2nd Foot were losing from two to five men daily from heatstroke. The hot weather passed, but it was a relief, nevertheless, to return to Poona that December. During the three years at Bombay there had been 112 deaths in the regiment, 36 of them from cholera, and 35 soldiers had been invalided home. Over the next two uneventful years at Poona the regiment was regarded as very healthy. There were only 30 fatalities including some of a reinforcement draft of recruits from England.