In April 1942 he was appointed to command the 10th Indian Infantry Brigade in North Africa. While commanding the brigade he was captured on 6 June 1942 during the fighting in the Knightsbridge Cauldron when his headquarters were overrun. He was held as a prisoner of war in Italy until the Armistice with Italy in September 1943, when he made his way back to the Allied lines in southern Italy. During his confinement his substantive rank was advanced from major to lieutenant colonel (while his temporary rank remained as brigadier) and he was also made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1943 "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Iraq, Syria and Persia during the period April 1941 to February 1942".