 Following the outbreak of the Second Boer War in late 1899, many of the regular battalions of British regiments were sent to South Africa.Military service in other outpost of the British Empire were for several years filled by militia regiments, including the 3rd Seaforth Highlanders, which embarked for service in Egypt in February 1900, under the command of Sir Hector Munro.Sir Hector Munro was Vice-Convener of the county of Ross and Cromarty, chairman of the Mid Ross District, in which his own estate was situated, for many years of the School Board of his parish and was Deputy Lieutenant and J.P for Ross-shire.