1757
In the summer of 1757, the Third Regiment formed part of an expedition against the coast of France, the land forces being under General Sir John Mordaunt, and the fleet commanded by Admiral Sir Edward Hawke. The Isle of Aix was captured in September, and an attack on Rochefort was contemplated; but the wind proved unfavourable, and the fleet returned to England.
1758
In the spring of 1758, the SECOND BATTALION of the Buffs was constituted the “Sixty-first Regiment,” under the command of Major-General Granville Elliott, from the Austrian service, by commission dated the 21st of April; the lieut.-colonelcy was conferred on Major John Barlow, of the Buff’s, and the majority on Captain Christopher Teesdale, senior captain of the Buffs. The Regiment, being thus formed from the Third Foot, was permitted to assume the Buff facing.
After its formation, the regiment was encamped at Chatham, with the Thirty-seventh and Sixty-fifth, under Major-General the Earl of Panmure.
The following officers were holding commissions in the regiment:—
| Colonel, Major-General Granville Elliott. | ||
| Lieut.-Colonel, John Barlow. | ||
| Major, Christopher Teesdale. | ||
| Captains. | ||
| James Patterson | Roger Crowle | |
| A. Singleton | William Buckley | Captain-Lieutenant. |
| Thomas Hardcastle | John Barford | William Gunning |
| M. Brabazon | ||
| Lieutenants. | ||
| John Acklom | Peter Maturin | D. Gilchrist |
| W. Peyton | S. Pearce | Thomas Brown |
| John Rowland | John Poole | G. V. Chetwode |
| John Waugh | William Wilson | R. Beatson |
| John Read | F. Blomberg | R. Kelly |
| N. Doolan | A. Leishman | J. Badger |
| Ensigns. | ||
| John Skinner | John Keir | James Savage |
| John Ireland | Edward Crowe | John Arbuthnot |
| Jarvis Palmer | Samuel Horner | |
| Chaplain, George Shaw; Adjutant, William Gunning; | ||
| Surgeon, Peter Johnston; Quarter-Master, Samuel Grey. | ||
Towards the end of the year the regiment embarked for the West Indies, with the armament sent against the French West India Islands, under Major-General Hopson and Commodore Moore.
1759
On the 16th of January, 1759, the troops landed on the island of Martinico; but so many difficulties were encountered, that they were re-embarked, and the attack on this island was abandoned.