Wolseley, promoted to brevet general while serving in South Africa on June 4, 1879, had superseded Lord Chelmsford in command of the forces in the Zulu War, and as governor of Natal and the Transvaal and the High Commissioner of Southern Africa.

Upon his arrival at Durban in July, he had found that the war in Zululand was practically over, and, after effecting a temporary settlement, he had gone on to the Transvaal.

Having reorganized the administration there and reduced the powerful chief, Sekhukhune, to submission, he returns home in May 1880 and is appointed Quartermaster-General to the Forces on July 1, 1880.

For his services in South Africa, he receives the South Africa Medal with clasp, and is advanced to GCB on June 19, 1880.