He saw service during the Mahdist War in 1885, at Tofrek, where he was mentioned in despatches and given a brevet promotion to major on 14 August 1885.

[5] He received a full promotion to Major on 27 March 1897,[4] and when his term on the staff expired in April that year he returned to his regiment.

[3] After the end of the war in June 1902, McCracken and the rest of the 2nd battalion was sent to Egypt, where they arrived on the SS Dominion in November 1902.

[9] "Until after dark Brigadier-General McCracken maintained his stand under severe gun and rifle fire, and did not retire until the rear of the column was in safety.

[17] At the Battle of Le Cateau in August, McCracken was briefly disabled by an artillery shell on the 26th and was relieved by Colonel W. D. Bird, one of his battalion commanders.

[23][24] During the war, he was mentioned in despatches a further seven times, and made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in June 1917.