His military career led him to become appointed as assistant military secretary to the General Officer Commanding Cape Colony in 1895. He went to Southern Rhodesia in 1896 to disarm the local police force following the Jameson Raid and then later to command the Matabele Relief Force during the Second Matabele War. In 1899 he returned to Southern Rhodesia as Lieutenant-Colonel where he led the Siege of Mafeking during the Second Boer War. Plumer returned to the United kingdom in 1904 and received an audience with King Edward VI. Lord Kitchener, Commander-in-Chief in South Africa stated "invariable displayed military qualifications of a very high order.Few officers have rendered better service." Plumer received many honours - British and foreign. Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (1918; Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (1916); Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (1917); Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (1924); Knight of Grace of the Venerable Order Of St John (1925); Legion of Honour (France-!917); Croix de Guerre (Belgium-1918); Croix de Guerre with Palm ( France-1919); Distinguished Service Medal (United States-1919); Grand Cordon, Order of the Rising Sun (1921) Individual image from photographed poster of tobacco and cigarette cards.cape colony, southern rhodesia, jameson raid, matabele rrelief force, second matabele war, siege of mafeking, second boer war, lord kitchener, knight grand cross of the order of st michael and st george, knight grand cross of the order of the bath, knight grand crossof the royal victorian order, knight grand cross of the order of the british empire, knight of grace of the venerable order of st john, legion of honour, croix de guerra, croix de guerra with palm, distinguished service medal, grand cordon, order of the rising sun

Rawlinson served with distinction in a field command in the Second Boer War from 1899 to 1902. He was in Western Transvaal during early 1902 and led a column taking part in the Battle of Rooiwai, the last battle of the war. Following the end of hostilities he returned to England. Rawlinson, for his commands and the battles and wars he was engaged in during his career was awarded many times. Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, 1917; Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George, 1918; Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, 1919; Baron Rawlinson, of Trent in the County of Dorset, 1919. Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour of France, 1916; Order of Danilo, 1st Class of the Kingdom of Montenegro, 1916; Obilitch Medal in Gold of the Kingdom of Montenegro, 1917; Order of St George, 4th Class of the Empire of Russia, 1917; Grand Officer of the Order of Leopold of Belgium, 1917; Croix de Guerre of Belgium, 1918; Croix de Guerre of France, 1919; American Army Distinguished Service Medal, 1919; Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India, 1924. Individual image from photographed poster of tobacco and cigarette cards.rawlinson, second boer war, western transvaal, battle of rooiwai, 1st baron of trent, dorset, knight grand cross of the royal victorian order, knight commander of the order of st michael and st george, knight grand cross of the order of the bath, grand officer of the legion of honour france, order of danilo 1st class of the kingdom of montenegro, obilitch medal in gold of the kingdom of montenegro, order fo st george 4th class of theempire of russia, grand officer of the order of leopold of belgium, croix de guerra of belgium, croix de guerra of france, american army distinguished service medal, knight grand commander of the order of the star of india