1742 - 1748 War of the Austrian Succession

1715 - 33rd re-raised
1719 - Expedition to Vigo
1743 - Dettingen
1745 - Fonteney and the '45 Rebellion
1746 - Roucoux
1747 - Lauffeld

At Roucoux (in Flanders) the 33rd Regiment petitioned to attack the enemy and "did it with so good a countenance that they got a great reputation". - The London Gazette Extraordinary 1746

From 1714 to 1742 there was a pause in the hostilities between Britain and France, due to the latter being too handicapped by internal corruption to present much of a problem.

However, in the latter year war broke out again with France, this time about who should succeed to the vacant throne of Austria.  The 33rd Regiment was part of the army which was sent to Germany to join its Dutch and Austrian allies.  There, near Frankfurt in 1743, was fought the Battle of Dettingen in which the 33rd particularly distinguished itself.  This resulted in a defeat for the French and the award of the Battle Honour 'Dettingen' to the Regiment, its first.

Dettingen was followed in 1745 by the Battle of Fontenoy, where the British infantry, under heavy fire, marched up to within pistol shot of the enemy and received their volley before firing a shot.  The British volley devastated the enemy.  As an example of the prowess of the British infantry Fontenoy stands almost without parallel.  Unfortunately the rest of the allied army failed in its tasks so that the British had to withdraw while in sight of success.  After Fontenoy the 33rd returned to England for a brief period to help deal with the rebellion led by 'Bonnie Prince Charlie'.  In 1746 the Regiment was back in Flanders taking part in battles at Roucoux and Lauffeld (1747).  At this time it was nicknamed 'Johnson's Jolly Dogs' after the name of its Colonel.

Peace was signed in 1748 but events outside Europe, particularly in India and North America, were hardly affected.  The peace, in short, was little more than a truce while the struggle for colonial advantage continued overseas.