 Nyorai kuenderera mberi kweiyi ndima - Crossman akapiwa basa rechipiri lieutenant muThe Prince of Waless Own West Yorkshire Regiment musi wa20 Kukadzi 1897, uye akasimudzirwa kuva lieutenant musi wa4 Kukadzi 1899. Akashanda muHondo yechipiri yeBoer 1899-1902, kusanganisira semukuru wevashandi kune mukuru wevashandi vezvitima paFrederickstad. Munguva yehondo akanga ari chikamu chesimba rakatumirwa kunobvisa Ladysmith, kutora chikamu muhondo dzeColenso December 1899, Spion Kop January 1900, Vaal Kranz uye Tugela HeightsFebruary 1900 zvichitungamira kunyaradzwa chaiko kweguta musi wa1 Kurume 1900. Akagara muNatal kubva muna Kurume kusvika muna Chikumi 1900 kusvika maBritish vatora zvakare koloni yese, ndokuzotamira kuTransvaal ndokutora chikamu mumabasa akapoteredza Pretoria. Nokuda kwebasa rake muhondo, akataura kaviri mumashoko, akagamuchira Mambokadzi weSouth Africa Medal ane zvishanu zvishanu, uye akagadzwa kuva Companion weDistinguished Service Order DSO. 