Leaving Botley in April, 1799, the regiment proceeded to Worcester, and from thence to Horsham barracks in July; in the following month it marched to the camp on Barham downs.
The militia being permitted this year to transfer their services to the regular regiments, two thousand seven hundred men volunteered to the King's Own, in consequence of which the regiment was formed into three battalions; Major-General the Earl of Chatham was appointed colonel commandant of the second battalion, and Major-General Lord Charles Somerset colonel commandant of the third battalion.
On the 3d of September the Prince of Wales was pleased to present a pair of new colours to the first battalion on Barham downs; the regiment was formed in a square, and His Royal Highness addressed the officers and men as follows:—
"It affords me the highest satisfaction to have the honour of presenting this gallant and distinguished corps with their colours. Nothing but a blameless accident could have deprived you of those you possessed before, and I now replace them, under the firmest conviction that there is not a regiment in His Majesty's service that will ever support and defend its colours with more valour and gallantry than the Fourth, or the King's Own. It considerably enhances the pleasure I feel on this occasion that the ceremony has happened on a day when every British heart must be filled with gladness at the tidings which have just been received of the heroic actions our brave countrymen have achieved in endeavouring to rescue Holland from the detestable tyranny of France, and I perceive with true pride that every countenance I now behold partakes of this noble ardour, and that every heart is panting to share in their laurels and glory."
In a few days after the presentation of the new colours the regiment was ordered to proceed on foreign service: it embarked at Deal, and after landing in Holland joined the Anglo-Russian army commanded by His Royal Highness the Duke of York: when the three battalions of the King's Own, and the thirty-first regiment, were formed in brigade under the orders of Major-General the Earl of Chatham.
This brigade formed part of the column under Lieut.-General Dundas, in the attack of the enemy's position near Bergen and Egmont-op-zee, on the 2d of October. The King's Own were engaged among the sand-hills, and evinced the same intrepidity and firmness for which the regiment had been distinguished on former occasions; the enemy was driven from his positions, and the troops received the thanks and approbation of the commander-in-chief. The regiment had three men killed; Ensign Carruthers, one serjeant, and eight private men wounded; one serjeant and six men missing.
In the attack of the enemy's position between Beverwyck, and Wyck-op-zee, on the 6th of October, the three battalions of the King's Own were sharply engaged; the action was most severe, and was continued with sanguinary obstinacy until night, when the enemy retreated leaving the allies masters of the field. The King's Own had Lieut.-Colonel Dickson, Lieutenant Forster, and twenty-five men killed; Major-General the Earl of Chatham, Lieut.-Colonel Hodgson, Captain Palmer, Ensigns Johnston, Carruthers, Nichols, Highmore, and Archibald, with four serjeants, and one hundred and eight rank and file wounded; Majors Wynch and Horndon, Captain Gillmour, Lieutenants Deare and Wilson, wounded and taken prisoners; Lieut.-Colonel Cholmondeley, Major Pringle, Captains Archdall, Brodie, and Chaplain, Lieutenants Gazeley and Wilbraham, Ensigns Browne, Ellis, Hill, Anderson, M'Pherson, and Tyron, with twelve serjeants, one drummer, and five hundred and two rank and file prisoners of war and missing.
Several circumstances having occurred to render further operations in Holland unadvisable, the army re-embarked and returned to England. The three battalions of the King's Own landed at Yarmouth and marched to Ipswich, where they passed the winter.
After the decease of General Morrison, the colonelcy of the regiment was conferred on Major-General the Earl of Chatham, by commission dated the 5th of December, 1799.