 After being mentioned in despatches on 31 March 1858 and promoted to mate on 28 September 1858, he transferred to the royal yacht HMY "Victoria and Albert" in June 1859.Promoted to lieutenant on 5 September 1859, Kerr was appointed to the steam frigate HMS "Emerald" in the Channel Squadron in July 1860 and to the second-rate HMS "Princess Royal", flagship on the East Indies and China Station in February 1864.While serving on HMS Princess Royal and ashore in the treaty port of Yokohama, Kerr also found the opportunity to take some of the earliest photographic pictures of Japan and in 1866 helped to establish the first Rugby Football club in the country.