after being recommissioned after her refit, "codrington" was nominated as the leader of the 19th destroyer flotilla, as part of the nore command. she then took passage to sheerness to take up her war station. she sailed to dover in september and on 4 september began to escort the convoys carrying the british expeditionary force to france. she remained in the english channel throughout october, before being transferred to harwich to defend against a perceived threat of a german attack on the low countries. she was back in dover in december, and on 4 december "codrington" embarked king george vi and transported him to boulogne for his visit to the british expeditionary force in france. "codrington" re-embarked him on 10 december and brought him back to dover. on 22 december, she joined the escort – consisting of , and – for the auxiliary minelayer "princess victoria" during a minelay in the dover barrage.