Upon the 8th of July, 1850, H.R.H. Adolphus Duke of Cambridge died, and was succeeded as Colonel-in-Chief by Field-Marshal H.R.H. Prince Albert, Consort of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria. [Sidenote: 1851–2–3, SOUTH AFRICA.] In 1851 the 2nd Battalion, which had been on home service since 1847, embarked for South Africa, and was employed in the Kaffir War during that and the two following years. It took part under Lieut.-Colonel Nesbitt in many actions with the enemy, including the passage of the Great Kei, the operations for clearing the Water Kloof, and the attack on the Iron Mountain. [Sidenote: Feb. 26th, 1852, WRECK OF THE ‘BIRKENHEAD.’] A detachment of the 2nd Battalion (forty-one all ranks, with seven women and thirteen children) formed a portion of the troops on board the ill-fated troopship _Birkenhead_, which, on the night of February the 26th, 1852, was wrecked on the South African coast under conditions which evoked from the troops on board a memorable display of steady discipline and serene courage in the face of danger. The men fell in and stood calmly on parade awaiting death while the ship was sinking “without a cry or murmur among them.” The whole ship’s company with few exceptions perished. On September the 23rd, 1852, General Viscount Beresford became Colonel-in-Chief, _vice_ H.R.H. Prince Albert, and was upon his death on the 28th of January, 1854, succeeded by Field-Marshal Viscount Gough. In 1855 and 1857 the 3rd and 4th Battalions were raised at Dublin and at Winchester respectively. Thus in 1857 the Regiment again consisted of four Battalions. ----- Footnote 25: His Royal Highness’s sword and belts were presented to the officers of the 1st Battalion by H.M. King George IV, and are now in the Officers’ Mess. Footnote 26: The seventh son of George III and the Father of the late Field-Marshal H.R.H. George Duke of Cambridge, Colonel-in-Chief, 1869–1904. Footnote 27: 3rd son of 2nd Earl of Sefton. Born 27th August, 1800; died 1841. Footnote 28: Afterwards General Viscount Melville, G.C.B., Colonel Commandant 1864–1875. Footnote 29: Afterwards Field-Marshal Viscount Gough, K.P., G.C.B., Colonel-in-Chief 1854–1869. V. 1857–1860.—DELHI. ROHILKUND. PEKIN.