Nyorai mberi kweiyi ndima - Kutevera chikoro kuEton College, Thorpe akapihwa basa muuto musi wa 8 Gunyana 1897 sa 2nd Lieutenant muArgyll neSutherland Highlanders. Akakwidziridzwa pachinzvimbo cheLieutenant musi wa 16 Chikunguru 1899 uye akashanda muHondo yechipiri yeBoer; akakuvara, akagamuchira Mambokadzi naMambo weSouth Africa Medals ane mabhegi ebasa muhondo dzeModder River nePandaardeberg
, uye muTransvaal neSouth Africa (1901 ne1902). Musi wa15 Gumiguru 1901, akatumirwa semukuru wevashandi vechiteshi.