He studied at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and was gazetted into the Royal Engineers in 1854. After service in India, in 1868 he took part in the Abyssinian Expedition under Sir Robert Napier, during which he was made Brevet Major. In command of Companies 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Bombay Sappers, he saw action at the Battle of Aroghee and the Battle of Magdala. At the capture of Magdala, he served alongside Harry Prendergast V.C., commander of the Madras Sappers, and was mentioned in despatches as "having rendered valuable and important services."