In due course, following the profession of his father, he purchased a commission in the
20th Hussars. When the
Egyptian Campaign of 1882 was undertaken he went out to Egypt as a Major on special service and was attached to the personal staff of General Sir
Garnet Wolseley. He was present at the
battle of Tel-el-Kebir, and brought home the despatches. His services in the campaign were
mentioned in despatches, and he was awarded with the
brevet of lieutenant colonel, the medal with clasp, the Fourth Class of the
Osmanieh, and the
Khedive's Star. Wolseley described him as a “horrid snob and … quite useless.” He retired from the Army in 1895. In 1887, he was the owner of the
Sunday Times. At the request of Queen Victoria he sold the paper to
Alice Ann Cornwell, who was an Australian gold mine owner. ==Personal life==