 Between March 1939 and January 1940 Anderson served on exchange in the Meerut district of India, returning to Australia on 8 January 1940 to join the staff of the 4th Division.In April 1940 he was appointed director of staff duties, with the rank of temporary colonel.On 1 July 1941 he was promoted to colonel and transferred to the Australian Armoured Corps, part of the Second Australian Imperial Force, serving as Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster-General of the 1st Armoured Division until January 1942.