Immediately after the surrender of Fort St. Philip, the regiment embarked for Gibraltar, and after a short stay at that fortress, proceeded to England, where its arrival was hailed with acclamations by the inhabitants of the towns through which it passed, who were proud of the honor acquired by the regiments which defended the principal fortress of Minorca.
1757
Soon after its arrival in England the regiment was augmented to two battalions, and in the summer of 1757, both battalions were encamped on Barham downs, under the Duke of Marlborough: the second battalion afterwards served on board the fleet as marines.
1758
In June, 1758, the second battalion was constituted the Seventy-third Regiment, under the command of Colonel Browne. This regiment was disbanded at the peace in 1763.
The Thirty-fourth Regiment proceeded to the Isle of Wight, where it was formed in brigade with the Twenty-fourth and Seventy-second Regiments, under the orders of Major-General Granville Elliott, and sailed with the armament, under the Duke of Marlborough, for the purpose of reducing the maritime power of France, and making a diversion in favour of the allied army in Germany. A landing was effected on the coast of Brittany on the 5th of June, and the French infantry and cavalry assembled to oppose the debarkation were quickly dispersed. On the 7th of June the army advanced in two columns towards St. Maloes, and encamping about a mile from the town, sent a strong detachment to the harbour, to set fire to the shipping, magazines, and maritime stores, when a grand and dreadful scene of conflagration illuminated the coast, and was seen for many miles. Having destroyed a valuable fleet, and extensive magazines of maritime stores, the troops re-embarked, and preparations were afterwards made for a descent at Granville, on the coast of Normandy, and afterwards at Cherbourg; but the weather being severe, the fleet returned to England.
This success was followed by the preparation of another expedition of a similar character, in which the Thirty-fourth Regiment was also employed; and on the 6th of August a landing was effected in the Bay des Marées, in the face of a body of French troops. On the following day Cherbourg was taken possession of, with the harbour, forts, magazines, and about two hundred pieces of ordnance; the iron guns were destroyed, and twenty-two fine brass cannon and two brass mortars, were sent to England as trophies. These guns were seen by King George II., in Hyde Park, and afterwards conducted by a cavalcade to the Tower.
After remaining in France ten days, the troops returned on board the fleet, and a second descent was made on the coast of Brittany on the 4th of September, when the batteries in the Bay of St. Lunaire were destroyed, and the troops afterwards penetrated the country a considerable distance; but no advantage resulted from this enterprise, and when the troops re-embarked at St. Cas, the enemy attacked the rear guard with superior numbers, and occasioned severe loss. The Thirty-fourth Foot returned to England, and landed at Portsmouth towards the end of September.
1759
1760
In the summer of 1759, the Thirty-fourth were encamped at Sandheath, with the Fifth, Eighth, and Thirty-third Regiments, under the Earl of Ancram; and in the summer of 1760, they pitched their tents at Winchester, where five battalions of militia were encamped with them, the whole under the colonel of the Thirty-fourth,—Thomas Earl of Effingham.