Hi Dorothy,
Infantry regiments were divided into two battalions with each battalion having four companies.One battalion usually served overseas whilst the other stayed at home,unless there was a conflict when both battalions could be sent.Each battalion had a strength of approx 1000 men.
Of the two battalions of the 7th foot,I think it more likely that it was the 2nd battalion that was at Walmer because the 1st were in India before and after that date and I can't see that they would have brought a battalion home from there only to send them out again!The 2nd battalion might have been there in transit between Gibralter and Malta.
I did find this about the movements of the 7th foot;
'Periods in garrisons and tours of duty both at home and abroad followed. The Crimean War saw the 7th as part of the Light Division at the Battle of the Alma 1854 where they won great renown. In all, the 7th won five Victoria Crosses during the Crimean War. The Indian Mutiny followed (1857/8), with the 7th arriving from England in December 1857. In 1863 the 1st Battalion of the 7th were on the North West Frontier of India and the 2nd Battalion went to Canada 1866-1870 where they were involved in dealing with the Fenian Raids.'
Unfortunately, I don't have access to the census returns so I can't look at them with a view to working out how many other units,if any,were at Walmer in 1861.I think that maybe we have to break the golden rule and 'assume' that Charles was in the 7th foot and possibly the 2nd battalion,given the information we have so far.
Regards,Mick
