He served in the South African War 1899--1902, the Aro and River Niger Expeditions in 1902, the Anglo-French expedition in 1905, and the Haitian insurrection of 1914, before serving in the First World War.
He served in the South African War 1899--1902, in command of the composite gunboat HMS "Thrush". Later in 1902 he took part in the Aro and River Niger Expeditions, followed by the Anglo-French expedition in 1905, and the Haitian insurrection of 1914, before serving in the First World War.