 In 1899 Baring's unit was sent to fight in the South African War, and he was present at the battles of Belmont, Graspan, Modder River, Magersfontein, and Driefontein, as well as the occupation of Bloemfontein.During the fighting in South Africa he was mentioned in despatches, and received the Queen's South Africa Medal with three clasps.Baring was the commander of a detachment of the Coldstream Guards in 1900 which went with the Australia and New Zealand Imperial Representative Corps to the inauguration of The Earl of Hopetoun as Governor-General of Australia.