He had wartime service as Commanding Officer of 56th Reconnaissance Regiment (nicknamed "Chavasse's Light Horse"). 56 Recce fought in Tunisia as part of 78th Division and between 25 November and 10 December 1942 it operated east of Oued Med Jerga. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned and without effective air protection, 56 Recce dominated its area. This was attributed to Chavasse's "personal example, dash and daring" and consequently he was awarded his first Distinguished Service Order.
