[7] After taking part in the Battle of Quintana in February 1878 during the 9th Xhosa War in 1878, he was promoted to brevet major on 11 November 1878.

[8] He next fought at the Battle of Ulundi in July 1879 during the Anglo-Zulu War and then returned to England to become brigade major at Shorncliffe Army Camp shortly before he was promoted to brevet lieutenant colonel on 29 November 1879.

[7] Promoted to brevet colonel on 18 November 1882, he was made aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria that same year.

[7] He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath on 25 August 1885,[11] and having led his troops at the Battle of Ginnis in December 1885, was promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant-colonel on 7 January 1886.

[14] In recognition of the transformation he had achieved in making the Egyptian Army a successful fighting force, he was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) on leaving Egypt on 25 May 1892.

The 1902 Coronation Honours list on 26 June 1902 included his name as a future peer,[21] and he was created Baron Grenfell, of Kilvey in the County of Glamorgan on 15 July 1902.

[23] Lord Grenfell returned permanently to the United Kingdom to command the newly created 4th Army Corps from 1 April 1903.

[38] He died aged 83 at Windlesham in Surrey on 27 January 1925 and was buried at St Mary and All Saints Churchyard at Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire.