After serving in the Second Boer War, he became adjutant general at Northern Command in 1903, commandant of the Cavalry School in May 1905, where he took over from Brevet Colonel The Hon. Julian Byng.[4] After having served as commandant of the School of Instruction for Imperial Yeomanry, he was promoted to colonel and served as an assistant adjutant general with North-Eastern District in November 1903.[5] He then succeeded Colonel Michael Rimington as commander of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade in January 1907, for which he was promoted to the temporary rank of brigadier general.[6][7]
Still in command of the brigade, he was promoted to major general in October 1910.[8] He was made colonel of the 1st (Royal) Dragoons in March 1912, taking over from Major General Francis Russell, who had died.[9]
He went on to become general officer commanding (GOC) the Welsh Division, later the 53rd (Welsh) Division, in October 1914,[10] two months after the British entry into World War I. He landed with his division at Suvla Bay on 6 August 1915 during the Gallipoli campaign, in which action his division suffered significant losses: he voluntarily handed over his command, saying that he had "lost control", on 16 August.[6] He was appointed a base commandant on 19 August,[11] leaving that post on 3 October the same year.[12] He retired on 25 March 1917 citing "ill-health contracted on active service", and then on 16 April 1919 resigned as colonel of the 1st Dragoons.[13][14]
