Officers who survived a Forlorn Hope expected promotion. Gurwood was too junior to be promoted within his own regiment and was made Captain in the Royal Africa Corps. He obtained permission to purchase an exchange into the 9th Light Dragoons, became brigade-major, and returned to the Peninsula in November 1812. On 17 January 1813 he acted as Esquire when Wellington knighted Sir Charles Stuart on the orders of the Prince Regent, and from this time he was frequently in Wellington's company. He fought in the battle of Vitoria in June 1813 and was sent to keep order ih the town which was being subjected to extensive plundering and looting. He and his brigade then took part in the long campaign up through Spain and France.