 From Ceylon it sailed to South Africa in 1879 for service in the Anglo-Zulu War.As part of the Cardwell Reforms of the 1870s, where single-battalion regiments were linked together to share a single depot and recruiting district in the United Kingdom, the 57th was linked with the 77th (East Middlesex) Regiment of Foot, and assigned to district no.50 at Hounslow Barracks.