Sabine served with the 23rd or Royal Welch Fusiliers in the War of Spanish Succession. He obtained the brevet rank of colonel on 1 January 1703. Under Marlborough he was wounded on 2 July 1704 at the battle of Schellenberg, and on 1 April following became colonel of his regiment. He commanded his Regiment at the Battle of Blenheim. He took part in the battle of Ramillies, being stationed with the fusiliers on the right of the English line. On 1 January 1707 he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general. At the Battle of Oudenarde on 11 July 1708 he led the attack on the village of Heynam, and afterwards he took part in the Siege of Lille. On 1 January 1710 he was appointed major-general, and was given command of the Citadel at Ghent where he had to put down a mutiny in 1712. He married as his second wife Margaretta Newsham in 1711.