OFFICERS to be distinguished by narrow gold lace or embroidery to the binding and button-holes of their coats; sword knots of crimson and gold in stripes; and crimson silk sashes worn over the left shoulder.
On the 23d of October, 1758, Lieutenant-General Bligh was succeeded in the Colonelcy of the regiment by Major-General the Honourable John Waldegrave (afterwards Earl Waldegrave), who was removed to the Second Dragoon Guards in the following year. The Colonelcy appears to have remained vacant from September, 1759, to November, 1760, when it was conferred by King George III. on Major-General the Honourable John Fitz-William from the Second, or Queen's Royal Regiment of Foot.
Another war having commenced in 1756, between Great Britain and France, a British army was sent to Germany in 1758; the establishment of this regiment was augmented to forty-nine private men per troop; and in 1762 the order prohibiting the regiment recruiting in Ireland was rescinded.
The success of the British arms in Canada, the West Indies, and Germany, was followed by a treaty of peace, and after the return of the cavalry regiments from Germany, in the beginning of 1763, the establishment of the SECOND IRISH HORSE was again reduced to twenty-one private men per troop.
At this low establishment the regiment continued until the breaking out of the unfortunate contest between Great Britain and her North American colonies, when an augmentation of ten private men per troop was made to its numbers. No further alteration appears to have been made until the conclusion of the war, when, the independence of the United States having been acknowledged, its establishment was reduced to its former numbers.
At this establishment it continued until the spring of 1788; when King George III., having resolved to form the two troops of Life Guards and two troops of Horse Grenadier Guards into two regiments of Life Guards on a similar establishment to that of the old regiments of horse, and to reduce the four regiments of horse on the Irish establishment to the pay of dragoons, with the title of DRAGOON GUARDS, His Majesty's pleasure was communicated to the regiments in Ireland, in a General Order dated the 14th of February, 1788; and the SECOND IRISH HORSE was thus constituted the FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS. In consequence of the regiment being placed upon a decreased rate of pay, compensation was given to the officers; to the colonel 150_l._ per year; to the lieutenant-colonel a gratuity of 575_l._; to the major 525_l._; captains, each, 475_l._; captain-lieutenant and lieutenants, each, 350_l._; and the cornets, each, 250_l._ Every private man had the option of his discharge, or a bounty of two guineas if he continued to serve.