Frederick Hackett-Thompson was commissioned into the 79th Cameron Highlanders as a 2nd lieutenant on 6 Aug 1879 and promoted to lieutenant on 22 May 1880. He went out to Egypt with the regiment in 1882 and was appointed Transport Officer. He was present at Tel-el-Kebir and promoted to captain on 20 Feb 1884. Captain Hackett-Thompson went on to take part in the operations in Sudan from 1885-86. He was wounded in the capture of Kosheh and took part in the battle of Ginnis. He earned medals for his time in Egypt and Sudan. He was promoted to major on 21 May 1894 and served in the Sudan campaign of 1898, being present at the battles of Atbara and Khartoum. His medals for this war included the Order of the Osmanieh 4th Class. He also served in the Boer War for which he was mentioned in despatches and appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). He was appointed commanding officer of the 1st Battalion with the rank of lieutenant-colonel on 9 Mar 1901. He was promoted to full Colonel on 10 Feb 1904 and relinquished command on 9 Mar 1905 when Lt-Col Scott-Elliot took over command of the 1st Battalion.
