 Pari gbolohun ti o tẹle: Lakoko Ogun Agbaye Keji, Kirkman ṣiṣẹ ni akọkọ bi Alakoso Alakoso CO ti 65th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery, ila keji Ẹgbẹ-ogun Territorial, eyiti ni ọdun 1940 ni a firanṣẹ si okeokun si Ilu Faranse lati darapọ mọ British Expeditionary Force BEF, nibiti o ti ja ni Ogun ti France, nikan lati : wọn kó wọn kúrò ní ìlú Dunkirk. Wọn sọ ọ di Òṣìṣẹ Orílẹ-èdè Ilẹ Gẹẹsì OBE ní 1 January 1941. O wa pẹlu regiment titi ti o fi ni igbega si ṣiṣe brigadier ni ọjọ 23 Oṣu Kẹta ọdun 1941 ati ṣiṣe ni Alakoso, Royal Artillery CRA lẹsẹsẹ ni 56th London Infantry Division, I Corps, VIII Corps, XII Corps ati South-Eastern Command. Awọn mejeeji XII Corps ati South-Eastern Command ni o jẹ olori nipasẹ Lieutet-General Bernard Montgomery, ẹniti o wa lati ṣe imọran giga pupọ ti Kirkman. Ipò ọgágun Kirkman ni wọn fi dá a lóyè ní ọjọ kejìlélógún oṣù karùn-ún ọdún 1942. 