In July 1745, the Earl of Albemarle took over as commander in Scotland and Hawley returned to Flanders with Cumberland, where he remained until the end of the War of the Austrian Succession. He took part in the 1747 Battle of Lauffeld, a decisive French victory where only cavalry charges led by Lord Ligonier saved the Allied infantry from annihilation. This ended Hawley's active military career, although he remained colonel of the 4th Dragoons until his death; in 1748, he was appointed Governor of Inverness, a post which required little service.