Her first station was the North America and West Indies Station based at the Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda and Halifax, Nova Scotia, where, under the command of Prince George, later to become King George V of the United Kingdom. "Thrush" arrived at Bermuda with Prince George in command on 18 July, 1890, with a torpedo boat in tow, and later proceeded to Halifax. In 1896 "Thrush", along with "Sparrow", played a part in the 40 minute Anglo-Zanzibar War. She was also on active service during the Second Boer War, which lasted between October 1899 and June 1902 where she was commanded by Lieutenant Warren Hastings D'Oyly. In early 1902 she helped a British force in Nigeria re-open trade routes on the Lower Niger, closed by piracy of some locals. Lieutenant Hector Lloyd Watts-Jones was appointed in command on 5 July 1902.