Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNIFICYP), a force intended to prevent conflict from breaking out between Greek and Turkish Cypriots: the battalion returned to the United Kingdom in May 1973. Also that year, the 3rd Battalion arrived in Gibraltar where it remained with the garrison for almost two years. 1st Battalion served in West Belfast between 1973 and 1974 and then again whilst on spearhead in May 1974 for the Ulster Workers Council Strike The 2nd Battalion was posted to Londonderry, Northern Ireland from Werl, West Germany. In 1975, 1st Battalion was posted to Werl, Germany (replacing the 2nd Battalion – who had moved from Werl back to Bulford Camp). The 2nd Battalion, were deployed to Northern Ireland in 1976, first on a spearhead deployment in South Armagh following the Kingsmill (Bessbrook) massacre, followed by a 6-month tour in Belize. The 1st Battalion were again deployed to Derry. The 2nd Battalion were deployed to West Belfast, on an operational tour in Andersonstown in early 1977. The 2nd Battalion were then posted to Gibraltar. The 3rd Battalion were posted to Belize, then a British territory, as part of the garrison there to protect it from the perceived threat of war with Guatemala, a neighbour of Belize, which was making claims that it believed Belize to be an integral part of Guatemala. In 1978, 1st Battalion deployed on operations to West Belfast for five months from Werl. The 2nd Battalion were in Gibraltar and the 3rd Battalion in Dover. The 3rd Battalion deployed to Bessbrook, Northern Ireland in 1979. The 1st Battalion moved to Canterbury (the regiment's home base) in 1980. From there it undertook a six-month tour of Belize. The 2nd Battalion deployed to Cyprus on a 6-month tour-of-duty with UN forces in 1981. The 1st Battalion were posted to Omagh in County Tyrone in 1982. It served there until January 1985 with south east Fermanagh as its primary focus. In 1983, the 2nd Battalion were posted to Derry, also on a two-year tour. The 3rd Battalion were deployed to Belfast on a six-month tour from Fallingbostel in 1984. With all three battalions' in the province of Northern Ireland, A freedom parade was held in Belfast in 1984 at which all three battalions' Regimental Colours were paraded. The 1st battalion moved to Gibraltar in 1985 for two years before returning to the United Kingdom (Tidworth) in 1987 where it was to remain