After graduating from the Staff College, Quetta, in 1929, where he was an outstanding student, with his superiors also noting his "strong and independent character", he held a number of both field and staff posts including brigade major to Brigadier Percy Hobart's 1st Tank Brigade and General Staff Officer Grade 1 (GSO1) to Major-General Alan Brooke when the latter was commanding the Mobile Division (later the 1st Armoured Division). He also had a period of secondment to the Royal Tank School in India from September 1925 and was promoted to captain from April 1929.