1740
In the summer of 1740 the regiment pitched its tents near Newbury, where an encampment was formed of two regiments of horse, three of dragoons, and four of infantry, under Lieut.-General Wade. The SIXTEENTH left the camp and embarked on board the fleet, where they served as Marines a short time, and afterwards landed at Portsmouth. In the autumn they furnished a detachment to accompany the expedition to the West Indies, under General Lord Cathcart, who died on the passage.
1741
The expedition arrived at Jamaica in January, 1741, and the detachment of the SIXTEENTH was employed in the attempt on Carthagena, the capital of an extensive and wealthy province in the country of Terra Firma, in South America. The violent periodical rains occurred before the conquest was achieved, and the armament proved of insufficient strength to capture the place; the country became deluged with water, the health of the soldiers was seriously impaired, and the enterprise was abandoned. The detachment of the SIXTEENTH was nearly annihilated by disease.
1742
In this year the war of the Austrian succession commenced; and in 1742 a British army proceeded to Flanders to support the interests of the Archduchess, Maria Theresa; but the SIXTEENTH were employed on home service.
1745
Charles Edward, eldest son of the Pretender, arrived in Scotland in the summer of 1745, and being joined by a number of the Highland clans, he made a desperate effort to overthrow the existing government, and to procure the accession of his father to the throne. At first some partial successes were gained by the insurgents; but the British nation evinced firmness and decision in supporting the rights of their sovereign, and in preserving the constitutional privileges of the people. The services of the regiment were, at this period, limited to the south of England, where a body of troops was held in readiness to repel a menaced invasion by the French.
1746
In January, 1746, the royal troops, under Lieut.-General Hawley, were defeated by the Clans, on Falkirk moor, and additional forces were ordered to proceed to Scotland. In March the SIXTEENTH regiment embarked from Gravesend, with several other corps, for Edinburgh, and arrived at Leith as the guns of Edinburgh castle were firing for the decisive victory gained over the clans at Culloden. The regiment waited a few days on board the transports, until the return of an express from the army, when it received orders to sail northwards, and landed at the royal burgh of Nairn on the 1st of May. It was subsequently stationed at Elgin, &c.