shortly after puttick's return to new zealand, he married irene lillian dignan in auckland. the couple would have three daughters. after being discharged from the nzef in march 1919, he rejoined the roads department. later that year he applied to join new zealand's permanent military forces but was declined. he returned to the roads department but was seconded to the military in august 1919. a few months later he received a commission in the new zealand staff corps as a major.