He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Scots Guards on 18 July 1896, and promoted to the rank of lieutenant on 22 September 1898. Following the outbreak of the Second Boer War in late 1899, he was with the 2nd Battalion of his regiment as it left Southampton for South Africa on the SS Britannic in March 1900.
On July 18, 1896, he received a commission as second lieutenant in the Scots Guards and was promoted to lieutenant on September 22, 1898. Following the outbreak of the Second Boer War in late 1899, he served with his regiment's 2nd Battalion aboard the SS Britannic during their journey to South Africa in March 1900.