In November 1943, the 7th Brigade returned to Australia where it undertook a period of reorganisation and training on the Atherton Tablelands. In early 1944, he and the 7th Brigade were deployed overseas again to Madang, Territory of New Guinea. While being transported in an aircraft in September, the aircraft crashed while en route from Lae to Madang, he and his party trekked for nine days before reaching safety. Transferred to Bougainville Island in November as part of Lieutenant General Stanley Savige's II Corps. He led the brigade during a number of significant battles until the end of the war including the battle of Pearl Ridge and battle of Slater's Knoll. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 21 February 1946 and mentioned in despatches on 15 April 1947 for his part in the Bougainville campaign.