[2] Oliphant was promoted to major general on 26 November 1898, and in February 1900 received a temporary appointment commanding the Militia at Aldershot.

[3][4] Later the same year he went to South Africa to serve in the Second Boer War, where he was in command of the Elandsfontein district and Klerksdorp sub-district.

For his service he was mentioned in despatches (including by Lord Kitchener dated 23 June 1902),[5] and was created a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the October 1902 South Africa Honours list.

[6] After the end of the war in June 1902, he had stayed on in South Africa for several months as General officer in command of the Potchefstroom district.

[7][8] He left Cape Town on the SS Kildonan Castle in late November, arriving home the following month.