Herbert was educated in Middlesex, qualifying M.R.C.S. and L.S.A. during 1881. He joined the Medical Services on 29th July 1882 and served under the rank of Surgeon, later Surgeon Captain until 29th July 1894, when he gained promotion to Surgeon Major/R.A.M.C. Major. He served on the N.W. Frontier, India, 1897-1898, and was awarded the Gold Kaiser-i-Hind Medal for Public Service in India in 1901. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 29th July 1902, then retired with pay on 8th October 1904. He qualified M.D. at Durham in 1905. He contributed to the J.R.A.M.C. original articles on Respiratory Pulse Curves and Venous Pulse in Healthy People in 1907; and Records of Pulse Rates after Exercise in Trained and Untrained People in 1910. Also published Reports on Plague in Calcutta, 1899-1902. Herbert was re-employed with the R.A.M.C. from 5th August 1914, and served as the Officer Commanding Croydon War Hospitals. He became Brevet Colonel on 3rd June 1917.