The 1st battalion returned to Europe in July 1809 to fight in the Peninsular War. It took part in the Battle of Bussaco in September 1810 and then fell back to the Lines of Torres Vedras. It took part in the siege of Badajoz in April 1811, the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo in January 1812 and earned its nickname, "The Bloody Eleventh", at the Battle of Salamanca in July 1812. It fought at the siege of Burgos in September 1812 and then pursued the French Army into France taking part in the Battle of the Pyrenees in July 1813, the Battle of Nivelle in November 1813 and the Battle of the Nive in December 1813 as well as the Battle of Orthez in February 1814 and the Battle of Toulouse in April 1814.