He also served in the Second World War as Flag Captain commanding and Chief of Staff of the Battle Cruiser Squadron from 1939; it was in this capacity that he took part in the Attack on Mers-el-Kébir in July 1940. He then served as Commander of Destroyers in the Mediterranean Fleet from 1941, taking part in the Battle of Crete and preventing Axis troops from landing on that island in May 1941, before becoming Commander of Destroyers in the Home Fleet from 1943. He was made Senior Naval Officer, Western Atlantic from 1944; this role evolved into Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies Station in 1945. He welcomed President Harry S. Truman to Bermuda after the War and retired in 1947.