In June 1808 His Majesty King George III. was pleased to approve of the SEVENTY-FIRST bearing the title of _Glasgow_ regiment, in addition to the appellation of _Highland_ regiment.
In the first instance, the SEVENTY-FIRST were brigaded with the fifth, thirty-eighth, and fifth battalion of the sixtieth regiment, under Brigadier-General Henry Fane, and sailed for Portugal, in conjunction with the forces destined to aid the Spaniards and Portuguese, on the 12th of July. After a favourable passage, the troops anchored in Mondego Bay in the beginning of August, and a landing was effected in the vicinity of the village of Frejus.
Early in the morning of the 4th of August a small piquet of the enemy stationed in the neighbourhood fell back, and the operation of disembarking the troops was carried into effect without opposition. The army then moved on to a position across a deep sandy country, where it halted, and encamped for the night.
At this period a change took place in the arrangement of the brigades, and the first battalion of the SEVENTY-FIRST was placed, with the thirty-sixth and fortieth regiments, in that commanded by Major-General Ronald Craufurd Ferguson.
The division under Major-General Sir Brent Spencer, K.B., from Cadiz, consisting of about four thousand men, joined on the 8th of August; and, after a short halt, the army was again put in motion to occupy a more forward position, where it remained for some days. On the 17th of August the enemy, commanded by General Laborde, was encountered near _Roleia_. The position was attacked, and carried with great loss to the French, who retreated on Torres Vedras.
The light company of the SEVENTY-FIRST was the only part of the regiment engaged, the remainder being employed in manœuvring on the right flank of the French. The light company suffered a trifling loss, having but one man killed and a few wounded.
The SEVENTY-FIRST subsequently received the royal authority to bear the word “ROLEIA” on the regimental colour and appointments, in commemoration of this victory.
Lieut.-General Sir Arthur Wellesley, after the battle of Roleia, did not pursue the enemy by the high roads, but keeping to the right near the sea, marched to _Vimiera_, to cover the landing of a brigade commanded by Major-General Anstruther, which was effected on the 20th of August.