During this period he served as Deputy Leader of the Senate and Parliamentary Secretary in the Department of the Prime Minister.[4] From 1900 to 1902 he served with his regiment in South Africa during the Second Boer War, where he was wounded, twice mentioned in despatches (including the final despatch by Lord Kitchener dated 23 June 1902[5]), and for which he was promoted a brevet major on 22 August 1902,[6] and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).[8] He retired from the army in 1907, but served again as an officer with the North Irish Horse in World War I 1914–18.They had two children: In 1922, the family was living in the ancestral home, Antrim Castle, when it was set on fire by the IRA.Lady Massereene was active in charitable causes, serving as president of the Women's National Health Association, and was also interested in spiritualism.