 He was posted to the corvette HMS "Bacchante" in July 1879, having been promoted to midshipman on 23 September 1879, he transferred to the battleship HMS "Northumberland" in the Channel Squadron in 1883.After a tour in the corvette HMS "Canada" on the North America and West Indies Station, he was promoted to sub-lieutenant on 24 September 1883, and posted to the torpedo depot ship HMS "Hecla" in the Mediterranean Fleet in 1885.Promoted to lieutenant on 31 March 1887, he joined the Royal Yacht HMY "Osborne" in October 1887 and then transferred to the battleship HMS "Anson" in the Channel Squadron in September 1889.