[7] The Second Boer War broke out in October 1899, and Pulteney served with the 1st Battalion of his regiment in South Africa from late 1899, attached to the Guards Brigade, with the brevet appointment as lieutenant colonel from 11 November 1899.

The following year he was appointed second in command of his regiment in April, took part in the march to Bloemfontein and Pretoria, and the battles of Diamond Hill (June 1900), Belfast (August 1900) and the advance to Komatipoort in September.

[8][9] He stayed with his regiment in South Africa until the war ended in May 1902, and left for the United Kingdom on the SS Briton two months later.

[14] In July 1910 he took command of the 6th Division, taking over from Major General Charles Metcalfe,[15] a position he held until the outbreak of the First World War some four years later.

[16] Pulteney had an extensive operational career during the First World War, receiving a promotion to temporary lieutenant general on 5 August,[17] the day after the British entry into World War I, and being made general officer commanding (GOC) of the III Corps, serving on the Western Front continuously from 31 August 1914 through to 19 February 1918.