 From 1934 to 1940, he was Director of Operations and Training (under various titles) at Defence Headquarters.He served as Deputy Chief of the General Staff from 1940 until 1944, when he was seconded to the staff of General Dwight Eisenhower as South African Liaison Officer to Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces in England for the rest of World War II.After the war, Brig de Waal served as Quartermaster-General from 1945 to 1951, and as Naval and Marine Chief of Staff from 1951 to 1952.