Haking studied at Staff College 1896–97. He was Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General for Cork District 1898–99. He was promoted major in 1899. He served on the staff in the Boer War, then returned to Staff College, first as a lecturer 1901–4, then as Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General (DAAG) 1904–6. Whilst on the faculty at Camberley he was promoted lieutenant-colonel in 1903 and colonel in 1905.