Syfret served in the Second World War initially as Captain of . In 1939 he became Naval Secretary. He was made commander of the 18th Cruiser Squadron of the Home Fleet in 1941 and commanded the naval forces during Operation Ironclad, the invasion of Madagascar in May 1942 and was convoy commander for Operation Pedestal, a critical Malta Convoy in August 1942. He was appointed Commander of Force H later that year and then, in 1943, became Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.