 He took over command of the 4th Indian Infantry Division on 30 December 1941 and then commanded it during the Western Desert and Italian Campaigns.Promoted to temporary major-general on 1 October 1942, he was mentioned in dispatches on 15 December 1942 and again on 24 June 1943.Promoted to major-general on 31 May 1943, he was appointed a CB on 5 August 1943.