1709
After reposing a few weeks in quarters, and receiving a draft of recruits from England, the regiment advanced up the country, and was encamped with the army on the Upper Dyle; it was subsequently employed in covering the siege of Tournay, and after the surrender of the town, on the 29th of July, 1708, the SIXTEENTH were selected to take part in the siege of the citadel. This proved a difficult service, in consequence of the extensive subterraneous works by which the fortress was surrounded. The approaches were carried on underground, and the working parties frequently penetrated the subterraneous labyrinths of the castle, and, encountering detachments of the enemy, fought underground with sword, pistol, and bayonet. Several parties were destroyed by the mines; but the works were persevered in, and the garrison surrendered in the beginning of September.
After the capture of Tournay the army marched towards Mons; but finding a numerous French force, under Marshals Villars and Boufflers, in position at Malplaquet, the enemy was attacked in his fortified post on the morning of the 11th of September, and the SIXTEENTH had the honor to contribute to the gaining of another victory over the armies of France. On this occasion, the regiment was formed in brigade with the Buffs and the regiments of Temple and Evans (afterwards disbanded), and was engaged in the attack of the woods in which the enemy's left wing was posted, and in its advance it encountered entrenchments and breastworks bristling with bayonets, and emitting a storm of musket-shot and cannon-balls, which thinned the British ranks. The leading corps were repulsed; but, fresh troops arriving, a general attack was made with so much resolution that the French were driven from their entrenchments into the wood, where a sharp fire of musketry was kept up, and the SIXTEENTH were engaged among the trees. Finally the French were overpowered at every part of the field, and forced to retreat.
The regiment had about fifty men killed and wounded; and Captain Ayloffe, Lieutenants Macrath, Whiting, and Lawder wounded. It was afterwards employed in covering the siege of Mons, and passed the winter in quarters at Ghent.
1710
Having received another draft of recruits, the regiment marched in April, 1710, to the vicinity of Tournay, where the army was directed to assemble; its services were connected with the forcing of the enemy's fortified lines at Pont-à-Vendin; it also formed part of the covering army during the siege of Douay, which fortress surrendered on the 27th of June. The regiment was afterwards employed in covering the siege of Bethune, and this fortress was captured before the end of August. The French army avoiding a general engagement, the fortresses of Aire and St. Venant were besieged at the same time, and after the capture of these towns, the regiment returned to Ghent.
1711
Brigadier-General Godfrey withdrew from the service, and was succeeded in the colonelcy of the regiment by Brigadier-General Henry Durell, from the foot guards, by commission dated the 17th of February, 1711.
In the campaign of this year the regiment shared in the operations by which the boasted impregnable lines, prepared by the French to arrest the progress of the allied armies, were passed at Arleux, on the 5th of August, and it was subsequently engaged in the siege of the strong fortress of Bouchain,—services which called forth all the powers of the active mind of the Duke of Marlborough, who proved himself superior to the French generals in all the qualities which constitute a great commander. Bouchain having been captured, the regiment was placed in garrison for the winter.
1712