He was commissioned into the 12th Lancers as a second-lieutenant on 8 June 1889, promoted to lieutenant on 3 September 1890, and to captain on 1 October 1896. He served with the regiment in the Second Boer War in South Africa 1899–1901, where he took part in the Relief of Kimberley (15 February 1900) and the subsequent battles of Paardeberg (February 1900) and Driefontein (March 1900); and from June to November 1900 in operations in the Transvaal. For his service, he was promoted brevet major in the 1901 South Africa Honours list (the promotion was dated 29 November 1900). He received the substantive rank of major on 3 September 1902.