In June 1943, Roberts handed over the 26th Armoured Brigade to Brigadier Richard Hull and was posted back to the United Kingdom, where for six months he commanded the 30th Armoured Brigade, part of Major General Percy Hobart's 79th Armoured Division. By now recognised as an expert in armoured warfare, Roberts was, aged just 37, promoted to acting major general on 6 December 1943 and became General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 11th Armoured Division (the "Black Bull"), taking over from Major General Brocas Burrows. He led the division in North West Europe from 1944 to 1945.