He was Deputy Military Secretary in the Ministry of Defence for two-year before being promoted to Major General and appointed Command Land Forces in Northern Ireland, Operation Banner, in 1977. He was appointed CB in 1979. Earl Mountbatten of Burma was killed just after Trant left to become Director Army Staff Duties in the Ministry of Defence. During this period, the Army, in common with the other British armed forces, faced significant cuts in funding following the Defence Review conducted by Secretary of State for Defence John Nott in 1981.