Few officers saw more active service at the time. As master of the Baltic fleet, 14 March 1854, he reconnoitred the southern parts of Åland, Hanko Bay, Baro Sund, and the anchorage of Suomenlinna, preparatory to taking the fleet to those places. He conducted the allied fleets to Kronstadt, and taking charge in Led Sund of the Prince steamer, with upwards of 2,000 French troops on board, he carried that ship to the Battle of Bomarsund, and was afterwards present at the fall of that fortress. He was employed as assistant master attendant at Keyham Yard, Devonport, 1855–64, and from the latter date to January 1868 as master attendant of Woolwich Dockyard.