 McCreery's youngest brother, Jack, who was a playwright with a play running in the West End, took his own life.In May–June 1940, several months after the Second World War began, McCreery was involved in the Battle of France, towards the end of which he commanded the 2nd Armoured Brigade, of the 1st Armoured Division, which found itself fighting alongside French General Charles de Gaulle.McCreery was impressed by de Gaulle's bearing during the latter's direction of a counter-attack at Abbeville, and remained an admirer of the French general in later years.