During the Boer War, he was a commandant of Prisoners of War. He returned to New Zealand in 1907 when he visited the cadet camp at Hagley Park, Christchurch during the International Exhibition when he praised the discipline and appearance of the cadets. In 1892, he became the 6th Laird of Wolfelee on the death of his brother, James. He became a Justice of the Peace for Roxburgh. In 1912, he sold the family home "Wolfelee House" at Bonchester Bridge, Roxburghshire. He died on 5 December 1920; at the time of his death, he was resident at "Springfield", Breinton, Herefordshire.