The second battalion left Colchester in January, 1810, embarked at Portsmouth for Gibraltar, and was subsequently stationed in garrison at Ceuta.
In the autumn the first battalion was again called upon to transfer its services to the Peninsula, where the war continued to rage, and Marshal Massena was advancing with a powerful army to complete the conquest of Portugal. Having embarked at Harwich on the 24th of October on board the Agincourt, of 64 guns, and Brune frigate, the King's Own, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Wynch, sailed for Portugal; they landed at Lisbon on the 4th of November, and advancing up the country to join the army commanded by Lord Wellington, then in the lines of Torres Vedras, were brigaded with the second battalions of the thirtieth and forty-fourth regiments, commanded by Major-General Dunlop, in the fifth division, under the orders of Major-General James Leith, and were stationed at Alcoentra, from whence they proceeded in December to Torres Vedras.
1811
Colonel Wynch was appointed to command a brigade in the light division; but, unfortunately for the service, and to the deep regret of all who knew him, this excellent and distinguished officer died at Lisbon on the 6th of January following, of a fever, caught in the discharge of his duty at the advanced-posts of the army. Lieut.-Colonel Bevan succeeded to the command of the first battalion, and Major Brooke was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and appointed to the second battalion.
The King's Own remained at Torres Vedras until the French army, having been reduced by sickness and other causes, retreated towards Spain;—the regiment then moved forward in pursuit, and the enemy's rear was harassed and attacked with varied success.
On the 2d of April the Fourth marched through Guarda; on the following day they passed the Coa with their division by the bridge of Sabugal; and the enemy, having been previously attacked by the light division, was forced to make a precipitate retreat, and he fell back upon Alfayates.
The French having retreated on Ciudad Rodrigo, the allied army stood triumphant on the confines of Portugal, from whence the King's Own advanced into Spain, and were cantoned at Aldea de Bispo from the 9th of April to the beginning of May.
When Marshal Massena advanced to the relief of Almeida, the allied army went into position to oppose his progress, and the fifth division taking post near Fort Conception, on the left of the line, was not attacked; the Fourth regiment was consequently not engaged in the action at Fuentes d'Onor.
After the repulse of the French army, the garrison of Almeida lost all hope of assistance, and the commandant made preparations for destroying the works, and for vacating the place. At midnight, on the 10th of May, he exploded the mines, and sallying forth in a compact column, broke through the blockading force; but was followed by a few men collected on the instant, and by the thirty-sixth regiment. Early on the following morning, as the King's Own were on the march to Barba del Puerco, they heard the firing of musketry at a distance, and hastened towards the scene of conflict. The enemy was on the march; but the British soldiers, throwing off their knapsacks, followed at such a pace, that they overtook the rear of the column in the act of descending the deep chasm of Barba del Puerco. Many were killed and wounded, and three hundred were taken; but the remainder escaped. The King's Own had two rank and file killed, and one lieutenant and ten rank and file wounded.