 He commanded the Royal Marines from HMS "Camperdown" and HMS "Astraea" who landed on Crete after local Christians and British soldiers were massacred by Turkish Bashi-bazouk forces in 1898, and was promoted to major on 12 December 1898.He was a member of the Naval Intelligence Department from 1900 until he was placed on half-pay on 1 July 1902 on account of medical unfitness, when he resigned to pursue his literary career.At the outbreak of World War I, he rejoined the Royal Marines and served as an intelligence officer at Plymouth.