 During the 1930s he served in India but returned to Britain in 1937 to become Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General at Eastern Command.In 1939 he became a General Staff Officer for 1st London Division of the Territorial Army (TA).In 1941 he was appointed Commanding Officer (CO) of the 2nd Battalion, KRRC, who were then part of the 69th Infantry Brigade and sent to North Africa, where he earned his Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in 1942.