"The Greys were not included at first when the expedition started, though cavalry (Heavy and Light) supplied regiments for the force concentrated at Varna under Lord Raglan the commander-in-chief of the British Army allied to the French in the joint expedition. "The Greys were naturally disappointed at receiving no order to embark at first, but when it was decided by the Government that an invasion of the Crimea was to be undertaken in July, 1854, they received orders to start at once for Constantinople, where they were quartered in the cavalry barracks at Kulalie on the Bosphorus for several weeks during the time the flotilla was in preparation for crossing the Black Sea. "At last word came that it had embarked for the Crimea, and with it as far as cavalry was concerned only light cavalry regiments were included at that time. "Very shortly, however, the transport _Himalaya_, which had originally brought out the regiment from England, appeared in the Bosphorus; and immediately embarked the Regᵗ for service in the Crimea. "It so happened that as the _Himalaya_ was passing the Fortress of Sebastopol the Russians were engaged in sinking ships to block the harbour to our fleet; a momentous decision! as it proved. "A remarkable scene then presented itself. First came the British Fleet, then the French Fleet, covering the flank of the allied army in full march towards the fortress--the French regiments being nearest to the sea were sighted first, then the British more inland, the whole army (though the fact was yet unknown) flushed with victory of the Alma River which they left that morning behind. "The Greys in fact joined the army at the Alma River where they were met by Lord Burghersh, Lord Raglan's Aide-de-Camp, who gave the first intimation of the Battle and suggested the steamer should drop down to the next river, the Katcha, and there disembark at any rate a squadron if possible before dark, so that it might watch for a force expected from Eupatoria to attack the rear of the army. "This was done and the bulk of the Regᵗ disembarked the following morning. "At the next river, the Belbec, the Greys from being with the rearguard was moved right through the English and French armies, bivouacked near the great high road to Sebastopol so as to become the advanced guard of the whole army, for they were the freshest troops just arrived from England, and 'turned out' as if for a Horse Guards Parade! "It was a strange scene; as soon as the French caught sight of the bearskin caps they began to cheer lustily, and as the Regᵗ neared the Highlanders of the British army, hung on cheering and asking for news from home; the French meanwhile calling out 'Voila de la Cavalrie, voila des Grenadiers a cheval.'