 He remained in South Africa and served as Commandant General of the Cape Colonial Forces, CCF with the rank of colonel from 1904.In 1910 he was the escort commander for first opening of the Parliament of the Union of South Africa and the following year he became Commander of South African detachment to attend the coronation of King George V.

On 1 July 1912 he was appointed as inspector-general of the Permanent Forces of the Union Defence Force with the rank of brigadier-general and in 1914 at the start of World War I he became commander of A-force for the occupation of German South-West Africa.In November and December 1914 he took part in operations against the rebels and on 23 September 1914 he fought at the Battle of Sandfontein in German South-West Africa.