In July, 1806, five companies embarked from Bermuda, and landed at Plymouth in August; they were followed by the five companies from the Bahamas, which landed at Plymouth in November and December. The first battalion, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel the Honourable E. M. Pakenham, received a draft of between four and five hundred men from the second, and, embarking at Liverpool for Ireland, landed at Dublin in the beginning of January, 1807: the second battalion, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel William J. Myers, remained in England.
Information having been obtained that Napoleon, Emperor of France, purposed employing the navy of Denmark against Great Britain, an armament was prepared for obtaining possession of the Danish fleet by treaty or force. The first battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, having been inspected by Major-General Leith, and commended for its appearance and discipline, was withdrawn from Ireland to take part in this enterprise. It embarked from Dublin in July,—landed at Liverpool,—marched to Hull, from whence it sailed to Denmark, and, disembarking on the island of Zealand, joined the army under General Lord Cathcart, and was employed in the siege of Copenhagen. After a bombardment of three days the city surrendered, and the Danish fleet was delivered up. The British troops afterwards returned to England; the Royal Fusiliers landed in November at Portsmouth, from whence they proceeded to Lewes, where another draft of nearly four hundred men was received from the second battalion.
1808
Returning to Portsmouth in January, 1808, the first battalion embarked immediately for Nova Scotia; the fleet called at Bermuda to leave the thirteenth regiment, and afterwards proceeding direct to Nova Scotia, the Royal Fusiliers landed at Halifax in the middle of April.
In May, 1808, the second battalion embarked at Tilbury Fort for Ireland, and landed at Monkstown in the middle of June.
Soon after its arrival at Nova Scotia, the first battalion was selected to proceed, with other corps under the command of Lieut.-General Sir George Prevost, to the West Indies to take part in an expedition against the French island of Martinique.
1809
The armament assembled at Carlisle-bay in Barbadoes, under the command of Lieut.-General Beckwith, and sailing on the 28th of January, 1809, arrived off Martinique on the following day. At four o'clock on the afternoon of the 30th the Royal Fusiliers landed at Malgré Tout, in Bay Robert, and marched that evening through difficult roads to De Manceaux's estate. After a few hours' repose the troops resumed their march to Papin's, where part of the division halted; but the Royal Fusiliers and grenadier company of the first West India regiment pushed forward to the heights on De Bork's estate, where they passed the night. On the following day they were joined by the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and the light infantry battalion; when Lieut.-Colonel Pakenham advanced with the Royal Fusiliers, supported by the light battalion, to the heights of Morné Bruno. From this post the Royal Fusiliers, with the rifle company of the twenty-third, and grenadiers of the first West India regiment, advanced, supported by the Welsh Fusiliers, against the height of Desfourneaux. The French, under General De Houdelot, were advantageously posted on the declivity of the hill, with a river in their front, and their left protected by artillery. Lieut.-Colonel Pakenham, with the flank companies of the Seventh, and rifle company of the twenty-third, turned the enemy's right; the light battalion moved against the enemy's left; and the battalion companies of the Seventh, and grenadiers of the first West India regiment, advanced against the front. Animated by a spirit of emulation and a thirst for glory, the British troops rushed onward with enthusiasm; the Royal Fusiliers forded the river under a heavy fire, and attacking their more numerous antagonists with signal gallantry, drove the French from their formidable position in disorder. Lieut.-Colonel Pakenham continued his victorious career against the heights of Surirey, and being gallantly supported by the twenty-third regiment, the soldiers under his orders, animated by the zeal and ardour of their brave leaders, overcame obstacles of a formidable character with heroic valour; they carried the hill, and, by a spirited charge, forced the French to take shelter under the guns of their redoubts. In this attack the valour and judgment of Lieut.-Colonel Pakenham, and the excellence of the Fusilier Brigade, were conspicuous. Lieut.-General Sir George Beckwith observed in General Orders:—"The Commander of the Forces desires to express his entire approbation of the manly conduct of the troops engaged yesterday, and desires that the general officers and soldiers will be pleased to accept his thanks, and to assure them that he will not fail to lay their merit before the King. Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost having reported the unremitting exertions of Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable Edward Michael Pakenham, of the Royal Fusiliers, the Commander of the Forces feels great pleasure in making this known to the army."
The regiment had Captain Taylor (acting Deputy Quarter-Master-General) and nine rank and file killed; two serjeants, one drummer, and fifty-six rank and file wounded; four rank and file missing.