 Dugdale resigned as Attlee's Secretary and enlisted in the Army during the Second World War and was an Officer.He had edited a book of Attlee's speeches called "The Road to War" which was published in 1940.However, when the Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for West Bromwich Frederick Roberts resigned due to ill health, Dugdale was chosen to follow him, and he was elected unopposed at the by-election in April 1941.