From Sandhurst, he was commissioned into the Lancashire Fusiliers and within the year was transferred to the 24th Baluchistan Regiment.
[1] Bruce then joined the Political Department, where he became a devoted follower of the policies of Sir Robert Groves Sandeman.
As noted by The Times: "[Bruce] became so deeply attracted by its success that he held it to be applicable to the tribes of quite different calibre in the Frontier regions invisibly divided by the Durand Line.
[2] He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire in the 1920 New Year Honours for services in India involving the Third Anglo-Afghan War.
[3] Third Anglo-Afghan War He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1925 Birthday Honours.