He served in the Second World War as commanding officer of the cruiser from July 1939, as deputy director of Training and Staff Duties from October 1940 and as deputy director of Gunnery and Anti-Aircraft Warfare from July 1941. He went on to be commanding officer of the cruiser from April 1942, Captain of the Fleet for the Mediterranean Fleet in January 1943 and Captain of the Fleet for the East Indies Fleet in January 1945.
