 He stayed in South Africa in retirement, and on the outbreak of World War II in 1939, he was recruited by the South African government to organise a navy, which was named the Seaward Defence Force.Hallifax joined HMS "Britannia" in 1899 and served as a Naval Advisor in Turkey, for which he was awarded the Order of the Medjideh (3rd class).During the First World War served as first lieutenant and torpedo lieutenant on board .