Career
Pole-Carew was commissioned into the Coldstream Guards in 1869. He served as a staff officer with Lord Roberts in the Second Anglo-Afghan War in 1878 and again served with him during the Second Boer War. He was promoted to the substantive rank of colonel on 27 November 1899, and at the same time appointed in command of the 9th Brigade with the local rank of major-general.
He later commanded the 11th Division of the South Africa Field Force, before becoming General Officer Commanding 8th Division in Southern Ireland in 1903.
In 1911, he was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Cornwall. He lived at Antony House in Cornwall.