He served in World War II and commanded the Battle Cruiser Squadron in 1939. He became heavily involved in the Norwegian Campaign and in 1940, with his flag flying in the battleship HMS "Warspite", he led the Royal Navy to victory at the second Battle of Narvik off Norway. In Summer 1940 he returned to the Battle Cruiser Squadron. He was made Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel in 1941 and Commander-in-Chief, Rosyth in 1944. He retired in 1946.