After serving in the militia, he joined the regular army as part of 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment in 1883, five years later transferring to the Army Service Corps as a Captain. For service in the Dongola Expeditionary Force of 1896–1898 he was mentioned in despatches, awarded the Order of Medjidie and made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). He also received the Order of Osmania and was again mentioned in despatches, both for his participation in the Nile Expedition and Relief of Khartoum.