[2] Commissioned into the 17th Lancers as a lieutenant on 10 May 1882,[3][4] he was stationed in India and promoted to captain on 25 February 1892[5][6] before he entered the Staff College, Camberley in 1894.

[7] After graduating from Camberley in 1896 he was appointed a staff captain (intelligence) at the War Office before serving there as a deputy assistant adjutant general from May 1898.

[9] During the war, he served on the intelligence staff of Major General Sir John French's cavalry division with Douglas Haig and received a brevet promotion to lieutenant colonel in the 16th Lancers on 29 November 1900.

[11] When the First World War started in August 1914 he was recalled for army service and became general staff officer of the 2nd Yeomanry Division,[12] serving in Egypt and at Gallipoli.

[18] In 1916 he returned to Egypt and achieved success at the Battle of Romani, but asked to be relieved of his command later in the year and was transferred to the 71st Home Service Division in England.

In 1917 he was in France as commander of the 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division, with whom he remained until made chief intelligence officer on Haig's staff on 22 January 1918.