The regiment was encamped near Southampton, where its ranks were completed by drafts from the 109th regiment; in November it embarked for the West Indies, and afterwards sailed with the armament, under General Sir Ralph Abercromby, for the conquest of the French West India Islands. The disasters which befell this fleet from storms at sea, and the number of shipwrecks which took place, are recorded in the naval history of Great Britain. [Sidenote: 1796] Four companies of the regiment, commanded by Major Brisbane, arrived at Barbadoes in March, 1796, and they formed part of the armament which proceeded against _St. Lucia_; three other companies also arrived in time to share in the enterprise. A landing was effected on the 26th and 27th of April, and at midnight on the last-mentioned day, Brigadier-General (afterwards Sir John) Moore advanced with seven companies of the FIFTY-THIRD, under Lieut.-Colonel John Abercromby, and a detachment of Rangers along a defile in the mountains, and falling in with the enemy's post at _Morne Chabot_, carried it after a considerable resistance. The FIFTY-THIRD distinguished themselves on this occasion; and Sir Ralph Abercromby's thanks were expressed to the regiment in orders, accompanied by the declaration that he would bring its conduct before His Royal Highness the Duke of York. The loss of the regiment on this occasion was one drummer and twelve rank and file killed; Captain Charles Stuart, Lieutenant Richard Collins, and John Carmichael, two serjeants, forty-four rank and file wounded; one drummer and eight private soldiers missing. The regiment was engaged in the subsequent operations for the reduction of the island, which was accomplished before the end of May; and the Royal authority was given for the word "ST. LUCIA" to be borne on the colours of the regiment, to commemorate its distinguished conduct on this service. After the reduction of St. Lucia, the regiment was embarked for St. Vincent, where an insurrection had broken out, and the native Caribs and many French colonists were in arms against the British authority. The insurgents were speedily overcome, and the Caribs fled to the woods. The hostile spirit which these people had long shown towards the British interests, occasioned the government to resolve to remove them from the island. The measures for this purpose were attended with much harassing duty to the troops, and many skirmishes occurred; but the Caribs were eventually forced to submit. The regiment was afterwards withdrawn from the island, when it received the following communication from Major-General Peter Hunter, dated 26th November, 1796:--