The regiment proceeded in March, 1803, in three divisions, to Ballinasloe, where it remained for a few days, and afterwards marched to Loughrea. Major-General Sir John Francis Cradock, K.B., was appointed Colonel of the Seventy-first Highlanders on the 6th of August, 1803, in succession to General the Honourable William Gordon, who was removed to the Twenty-first Royal North British Fusiliers. The regiment continued at Loughrea, but the light company was detached to Limerick to join a light battalion which was being formed at that place. Captain Sinclair died during this year, and the officers of the regiment caused a stone to be erected over his grave bearing the following inscription:— “To the memory of Captain John Sinclair, this stone was caused to be placed by his brother officers of the Seventy-first Regiment, as a testimony of the high esteem they held him in as an officer, as well as the sincere love they bore him as a friend. Twenty-six years spent in zealous and faithful discharge of his duty justly entitled him to the character of the one, and the many estimable qualities of the heart gave him no less claim to the other; he died at the age of 41, in the year of our Lord 1803, resigning only with his breath that commission which His Gracious Majesty had pleased to bestow.” [Sidenote: 1804.] In May the regiment proceeded from Loughrea to the county of Limerick; the head-quarters being stationed at Rathkeale, one detachment at Newcastle, another at Tarbert, and a third at Askeaton. [Sidenote: 2nd bat.] While the regiment was stationed in Ireland, war had recommenced with France, and Bonaparte having made preparations for invading Great Britain, additional measures of defence to those of the former year were adopted by the Government; and under the “_Additional Force Act_,” passed on the 10th of July, 1804, a second battalion was added to the Seventy-first Regiment, which was to consist of men to be raised for limited service in certain counties of North Britain. The second battalion was formed at Dumbarton in October, to the command of which Lieut.-Colonel Lord George Beresford was appointed. Its establishment was fixed at 23 sergeants, 22 drummers, 20 corporals, 1,380 privates. [Sidenote: 1805.] [Sidenote: 1st bat.] In March, 1805, the first battalion, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Pack, proceeded to Bandon, in the county of Cork, and was stationed at that place until July, when it marched to Cork, and immediately afterwards to Monkstown, where it embarked in transports, having been selected to form part of a secret expedition under its former commander, Major-General Sir David Baird. In the beginning of August the embarkation was completed, and on the 5th of that month the fleet sailed, convoyed by three 64-gun ships, two frigates and gun brigs, under the orders of Commodore Sir Home Popham; and on the 28th of September the fleet, after a very boisterous passage, arrived at Madeira.