He joined the 28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot in the Peninsular War and for his service received the Gold Medal and two clasps. After the Battle of Quatre Bras he succeeded to the command of the 8th Brigade and at Waterloo he commanded the 28th when he had two horses killed under him and two wounded. The 28th maintained their square for over an hour in the face of repeated charges by French cuirassiers and lancers.