In 1873 Forestier-Walker was appointed Military Secretary to the General Officer Commanding Cape Colony. He saw action in the Cape Frontier Wars, for which he was appointed a Companion of the Order ofthe Bath, 1878, and in the Anglo-Zulu War. In 1880 he returned to Britain but in 1882 returned to South Africa. From 1884 he served in Bechuanaland and in 1886 was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for services in that protectorate. During service in Egypt in 1890 he was knighted and promoted to a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. He left Egypt in 1895. In 1899 he returned to Africa, becoming General Officer Commanding Cape Colony and acting as lieutenant general in command of Lines of Communication, South Africa Field Force, 1899-1901. The Commander-in-Chief in South Africa, Lord Roberts, mentioned Forestier-Walker in espatches in 1900. He was promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George. In 1901 he became a Knight of Grace of the Order of St John.Individual image from photographed poster of tobacco and cigarette cardsforestier-walker, military secretary, general officer commanding cape colony, cape frontier wars, companion of the order of the bath, anglo-zulu war, south africa, bechuanaland, knight commander of the order of the bath, lieutenant general, south africa field force, commander-in-chief, lord roberts, companion of the order of st michael and st george, knight commander of the order of st michael and st george, knight of grace of the order of st john

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