In July, the service companies were re-embarked for the Cape of Good Hope, and arrived at Cape Town in August. After landing their sick, they were ordered to proceed to Waterloo Bay, near to the Great Fish River, there to disembark, and join the troops employed in the field against the Kaffirs, on which arduous duty the regiment was subsequently employed.
From the 1st of January to the 3rd of February, 1847, and from the 10th of September to the end of the year, the service companies were engaged in active field operations against the Kaffirs. On this service the SEVENTY-THIRD had the following officers killed, namely, Captain William Baker, Lieutenants Clarevaulx Faunt, and the Honorable William John Granville Chetwynd, Ensign William Burnop, and Surgeon Neil Stewart Campbell.
1848
In January, 1848, the service companies proceeded to Fort Grey, where the head-quarters were stationed until July following, and in October they were removed from Fort D’Urban to Cape Town.
1849
Major-General Richard Goddard Hare Clarges, C.B., was appointed colonel of the SEVENTY-THIRD regiment on the 18th of May, 1849, in succession to Major-General Sir John Grey, K.C.B., who was removed to the fifth Fusiliers.
During the year 1849 the service companies were stationed at Cape Town. The depôt companies also remained in Ireland.
1850
In December, 1850, the head-quarters and four companies, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel William Eyre, were removed from Cape Town to the Buffalo mouth for the frontier, in consequence of an outbreak of the Kaffirs.