 In 1938 as a temporary brigadier he was appointed Commandant of the School of Equitation, Weedon.He became commander of 4th Cavalry Brigade in 1939 and was deployed to the Middle East.He was briefly acting General Officer Commanding, 1st Cavalry Division in the Middle East in 1940 and then returned to the command of the 4th Cavalry Brigade in the Middle East later that year.