King William conferred the colonelcy of the regiment on the Honorable James Stanley, afterwards Earl of Derby, from Captain and Lieut.-Colonel in the first foot guards.
Towards the end of August the regiment was detached, with other troops, under Lieut.-General Talmash, who moved towards Bruges: at the same time Furnes and Dixmude were taken possession of and fortified.
1693
The regiment served the campaign of 1693 in the brigade commanded by Brigadier-General Erle. It took part in several movements, and was in position when the confederate army was attacked at Landen, on the 29th of July, by the French, under Marshal Luxemburg. The enemy had a great superiority of numbers on this occasion, and the confederate army was forced to retreat. It was stated in the London Gazette, "the enemy had above eighty thousand effective men; we were not more than forty-five thousand. * * * Our troops in general behaved themselves extremely well, but the English did particularly distinguish themselves." The regiment had Captain Cole and Ensign Johnston killed, and Ensign Campion taken prisoner; it also lost upwards of fifty men, killed, wounded, and taken prisoners.
At the end of the campaign the regiment was placed in garrison at Dendermond.
1694
Quitting its winter quarters in May, 1694, the regiment joined the army, and served the campaign of this year in the brigade commanded by Brigadier-General Collier: it afterwards returned to Dendermond.
1695
In 1695 King William undertook the siege of Namur, and the SIXTEENTH had the honor to take part in the capture of this important fortress. They joined the besieging army, and were on duty in the trenches on the 7th of July; and they were repeatedly engaged in storming the outworks and exterior defences. On the 17th of July Ensign Gardiner of the regiment was killed, and Ensign Devreux wounded, at the attack on the counterscarp; and on the 2nd of August, Captain Holiday of the grenadier company was wounded at the extending of the lodgment on the covered way. On the following day, when preparations were making for another assault, the garrison hoisted a white flag and agreed to surrender the town.