On 6 Mar 1881, Bermuda. HMS 'Orontes' arrived with draft (total All Ranks, 155 with three women and four children) from 38th Brigade Depot which did not disembark the Regiment being under orders to proceed in 'Orontes' for service in West Indies
On 8 Mar 1881, Bermuda. Orders changed at short notice - destination to be Natal for active service. Regiment including Boaz Island detachment (21 Officers, 663 Corporals and Men, six Horses, 36 women and 57 children) embarked on HMS 'Orontes'
On 6 Apr 1881, South Africa, Cape Town. 'Orontes' arrived. 'C', 'F' and 'G' Companies with women and children (Nine Officers, 263 Corporals and Men, one Horse, 35 women and 55 children) disembarked and marched to Cape Town Barracks
On 29 Apr 1881, South Africa, Wynberg. 'B' Company (Two Officers, three Sergeants, three Corporals, 64 Privates, two women and five children) proceeded to Simons Town on detachment
On 14 May 1881, South Africa, Wynberg. 'E' Company, augmented to three Officers and 100 Men, detached and proceeded by rail to Cape Town, embarked on RMS 'Roman' for Natal and transferred there to steam ship 'Union' to St John's River, Pondoland.
On 1 July 1881, England. The Regiment now became the 1st Battalion (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) Berkshire Regiment. The 49th brought with them to the newly constituted Regiment the badge of the China Dragon and the words 'Princess Charlotte of Wales's'
On 1 July 1881, South Africa. 2nd Battalion Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment established :- 28 Officers, two Warrant Officers, 88 Corporals and 776 Men. Total 894 All Ranks
On 2 July 1881, South Africa, Wynberg. Between July and November companies attended an annual musketry course
2 to 16 July 1881 'A' Company
1 to 16 September 1881 'B' Company
24 September to 11 October 1881 'C' Company
26 July to 12 August 1881 'D' Company
17 to 29 October 1881 'F' Company
9 to 26 November 1881 'G' Company
16 to 31 August 1881 'H' Company
On 4 Aug 1881, South Africa, Cape Town. Order received with effect from 1 July 1881, changing title of 99th Regiment to 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment
On 24 Aug 1881, South Africa, Wynberg. 'A' Company to CapeTown and 'C' Company to Wynberg on 24 August. Detachment (One Officer and 19 Other Ranks) to Simons Town on 25 August and 'B' Company to Wynberg on 26 August