 He took part in the action at Fort Gamaizah (near Suakin), and served with the Nile Frontier Force in 1889 winning the Order of Medjidie Third Class.In February 1891 he was present at the capture of Tokar, in command of a battalion of Egyptian infantry; his horse was shot from under him.At the end of the war, he was awarded the Order of Osmanieh Third Class, which he was given a Royal Licence to wear on his British uniform.