In 1862, he was appointed to the 5th Fusiliers and ADC to Sir William Stevenson, the Governor of British Mauritius. He served in South Africa 1864-67. He was promoted brevet major in March 1872, and major in October 1877, before taking part in the Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-1880. He commanded the column that cleared the entrance to the Khaibar or Khyber Pass. Having returned to Berwick, he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in 1881 and colonel in July 1882.