Hildyard remained in South Africa to command the 5th Division from 1900 to 1901, during which time he took part in the Battle of the Tugela Heights. In October 1901 he returned to the UK as a lieutenant general temporary in command of the 1st Army Corps (the Aldershot Command), pending the return from South Africa of Sir John French, who was to receive the command in succession to General Sir Redvers Buller, recently dismissed. French returned to the United Kingdom after the war had formally ended in June 1902, but did not relieve Hildyard of the command until 15 September 1902.