He was the son of Robert Abercromby Yule, a colonel who served in the 16th The Queen's Lancers and fought in the First Anglo-Sikh War.

[4] Yule was then sent to South Africa for service in Second Boer War: he was given command of a brigade in the newly formed 4th Division in Northern Natal in September 1899 and was then given a new command with orders to defend Glencoe in October 1899.

[4] The division, which was under the command of Major-General Sir William Penn Symons, launched a frontal attack on the enemy during the Battle of Glencoe on 20 October 1899.

Yule managed to secure the target of the attack, Talana Hill, but after finding it impossible to retain possession of the hill, withdrew the division to Ladysmith where it became part of the besieged garrison on 26 October 1899.

[5] He sailed for home in January 1900 and was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath for his service in South Africa on 27 September 1901.