 He completed staff college in Quetta in 1923–1924, and was posted to the War Office in London, England, in 1930.When the Second World War broke out, he was Director of Military Training in Ottawa.He was given command of the Royal Rifles of Canada, The Winnipeg Grenadiers, and the other Canadian support units which arrived in Hong Kong on 16 November 1941 to reinforce the British garrison ahead of the Battle of Hong Kong (8–25 December 1941).