While the SIXTH were in garrison at Gibraltar, the tyrannical proceedings of Bonaparte in Portugal and Spain, and the resistance which he met with in those countries, induced the British Government to aid the patriots in their endeavours to shake off the French yoke; and in June, 1808, this regiment, mustering upwards of eleven hundred men, was placed under the orders of Major-General Brent Spencer, with the view of being employed in this service. For some time, however, the point at which a landing should take place was not decided, and the troops appeared first off Ceuta, then proceeded to Cadiz, subsequently to Lisbon, and back to Cadiz. At length circumstances occurred which induced Major-General Spencer once more to proceed to the vicinity of Lisbon, where he learnt that Lieut.-General Sir Arthur Wellesley had arrived, with eight thousand men from Ireland, in the Mondego river, and immediately proceeded thither to join him. Having landed on the shores of Portugal, the SIXTH were formed in brigade with the thirty-second regiment, under Brigadier-General Bowes; the advanced guard quitted the banks of the Mondego river, on the 9th of August, and on the 17th attacked the French under General Laborde in their position at _Roleia_. On the morning of this day, which is memorable for being the first of a series of victories gained by the British troops in the Peninsula, the SIXTH issued from Obidos, a town with a Moorish castle, built on a gentle eminence in the middle of a valley, and, directing their march to the left, gained the ridge of heights on the enemy's right. They formed part of the left column of attack under Major-General Ferguson, destined to turn all the enemy's posts on the left of the valley, and the right of his post at Roleia; also to oppose the efforts of a body of French troops under General Loison, should they arrive from Rio Major during the action. The heights were cleared, the column descended from the higher grounds in the rear of the centre, and joining Brigadier-General Fane's brigade, were directed through the mountains to outflank the French right. Meanwhile the troops which attacked the enemy's centre were triumphant; the SIXTH and other corps in the left column turned his right flank, and he fell back fighting to the Quinta de Bugaliera, and soon after four o'clock the action had ceased. The SIXTH were not seriously engaged: their only loss was Captain John Currey and two men wounded, and one man missing; but their gallant bearing, and eagerness to engage their adversaries were conspicuous, and they were rewarded with the honour of bearing the word "ROLEIA" inscribed on their colours.