He saw active service again in the Second World War, including taking part in the Allied reactions to the German invasion of Norway in 1940 (as commander of HMS "Aurora"), for which he was awarded the Norwegian War Cross, and the protection of Arctic convoys. In 1942, he was a Rear Admiral commanding the First Cruiser Squadron (CS1), which consisted of the British cruisers and , the American cruisers and , and four destroyers. In that role, he was one of the senior officers of the disastrous Convoy PQ 17.