Various circumstances occurred to induce Great Britain to take part in the contest, and Queen Anne declared war against France and Spain, in May, 1702. The establishment of the TWELFTH regiment was augmented, and it was held in readiness to proceed on foreign service; but it was detained in Ireland several months, during which period Colonel Brewer was succeeded in the colonelcy by Lieut.-Colonel Livesay, by commission, dated the 28th of September 1702. As soon as hostilities were commenced, Vice-Admiral Benbow, commanding the British naval force in the West Indies, began an active warfare against the commerce of the enemy, with some success. Soon afterwards the TWELFTH regiment was ordered to form part of a powerful armament, designed to be sent to the West Indies, under Charles Earl of Peterborough who was promoted to the local rank of General, and a Dutch naval and land force arrived at Spithead, to accompany the British fleet; but this joint expedition was laid aside. [Sidenote: 1703] The TWELFTH regiment embarked for the West Indies during the winter. In the early part of March, 1703, an unsuccessful attack was made on the island of _Guadaloupe_, by the troops under Colonel Codrington; two regiments landed and gained some advantages, but the expedition was not of sufficient strength to capture the island. [Sidenote: 1704] Additional regiments were afterwards sent to the West Indies:[7] but nothing of importance took place, and the TWELFTH were sent to the island of Jamaica, where they were stationed during the year 1704. [Sidenote: 1705] The regiment sustained very serious losses from the effects of the climate, and, in 1705, it transferred the non-commissioned officers and soldiers fit for service, to the twenty-second foot, and the officers and a few of the serjeants returned to England to recruit. [Sidenote: 1706] [Sidenote: 1707] [Sidenote: 1708] During the years 1706 and 1707, the regiment was employed in recruiting, training, and disciplining its ranks, and having attained a state of efficiency, it was reported fit for service, and in the spring of 1708, it was held in readiness to serve on board the fleet as marines. During the summer, the regiment was encamped in the Isle of Wight, where it was reviewed, on the 19th of July, by Major-General Erle, and afterwards embarked on an expedition against the coast of France, the fleet being under the orders of Admiral Sir George Byng, and the land forces under Major-General Erle.[8] The fleet sailed from Spithead on the 27th of July, and menaced the coast of Picardy with a descent, creating considerable alarm and consternation; a landing was afterwards effected a few miles from Boulogne, but nothing of importance was accomplished.