[4] After a brief period of regimental duty with the 38th Foot and then the 29th Bengal Native Infantry, he entered the Indian commissariat department in 1864, where he remained till 1895, rising to the highest post of commissary general-in-chief, December 1890.

His next service was as principal commissariat officer under Major-General Frederick Roberts in the Kurram Valley Field Force (1878–9) during the Second Afghan War, taking part in the battle of Peiwar Kotal and other actions.

Returning from furlough when operations were resumed in late 1879, he joined the Kabul Field Force, and owing to his preparations, Lord Roberts found in the Sherpur Cantonment when it was invested: 'supplies for men stored for nearly four months and for animals for six weeks.

For these services he received the Afghanistan Medal and three clasps, the bronze Kabul to Kandahar Star, brevets of major and lieutenant-colonel, and made a companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).

[4] Returning to England on his retirement at the expiration of his term of office as quartermaster-general in 1900, he took an active part in the organisation of the Imperial Yeomanry, and was appointed member of the Secretary of State's Council of India.

He became a knight commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 1902 Coronation Honours list published on 26 June 1902,[5][6] and invested as such by King Edward VII at Buckingham Palace on 24 October 1902.