1899 saw him back in England for only a short while before being drafted to South Africa to take part in the Boer War.
He served mainly with Lord Methuen and was promoted to Captain on 1 April 1900.

In May of that same year he came under fire from the Boer forces while fording the Rhenoster River.
He was among the troops that relieved the town of Lindley and the 13th Yeomanry Battalion on 27 June 1900.
For the next two years he was moved all over the country in a seemingly endless war.
His duties took up much of his time and energy, so that he published no bird articles during this period.

Just before the end of the war, he was invalided back to England, arriving on the hospital ship Nubia in March 1902.
For his services he received the Queen's Medal with three clasps and the King's Medal with two clasps.
1899 saw him back in England for only a short while before being drafted to South Africa to take part in the Boer War. He served mainly with Lord Methuen and was promoted to Captain on 1 April 1900.
In May of that same year he came under fire from the Boer forces while fording the Rhenoster River. He was among the troops that relieved the town of Lindley and the 13th Yeomanry Battalion on 27 June 1900. For the next two years he was moved all over the country in a seemingly endless war. His duties took up much of his time and energy, so that he published no bird articles during this period.
Just before the end of the war, he was invalided back to England, arriving on the hospital ship Nubia in March 1902. For his services he received the Queen's Medal with three clasps and the King's Medal with two clasps.
Boyd Robert Horsbrugh