[2] He entered the East India Company's Military College at Addiscombe in February 1856, and received a commission in the Bengal Engineers on 11 December 1857.

He subsequently spent three years at Kangra where he worked on the construction of 120 miles of mountain roads, and designing and building four bridges at Buneyr, Nigul, Dehree and Durom.

Whilst in England, he read a paper on "The Retention of Candahar and the Defence of the North West Frontier" to the East India Association.

[2] On his return to India he took charge of railway reconnaissance in the Central Provinces, and his services earned him the thanks of the Indian government.

[2] In 1881 he became colonel, and in 1882 commanded the Indian engineer contingent sent to Egypt, being present at the Battle of Tel el-Kebir during the Anglo-Egyptian War.

In 1892 he was appointed agent to the governor-general in Baluchistan, in succession to Sir Robert Groves Sandeman, his intimate experience of the Baluchis, gained during his railway work, having specially fitted him for this post.