 These initial planning meetings ended in January 1942, and Poett returned with the Prime Minister's party via a specially-charted train to Norfolk, Virginia, and then by flying boat to Britain via Bermuda; when he was leaving the hotel he had been staying in, Poett was informed that his hotel bills and expenses had been paid for by the Americans as part of the Lend Lease agreement between the two countries.When he returned from Washington, Poett requested that the War Office return him to regimental duty and give him command of a regular infantry battalion.A short while later, Poett was ordered to take command of the 11th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry.