 He was promoted Captain in 1930, Lieutenant-Colonel in 1941, Colonel in 1946, and Brigadier in 1948.In 1940 he saw active service in North West Europe, when he was mentioned in despatches, and in 1944 took part in the Normandy landings as commander of 27th Armoured Brigade, serving on the continent until 1945.In 1946 he went to Washington, D.C. as military attaché at the British Embassy, a two-year posting.