From 1900 he served in the Second Boer War in command of the 1st Battalion, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, in operations against in the Boers in the Orange Free State and Transvaal, taking part in the Battle of Diamond Hill. During the war he was mentioned in dispatches, received the Queen's South Africa Medal with four clasps, the King's South Africa Medal with two clasps and was made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).