Jimmy was commissioned directly into the Regiment, during a lull in the Desert War in February 1942. He fitted in as a troop commander very quickly indeed, displaying an instinctive tactical sense, which won him the Military Cross in the Desert and later stood him in good stead in Europe. At the invasion of Normandy, Jimmy was 2-i-c to Oliver Woods (“the Journalist”) commanding "A" Squadron. He stayed on in the same capacity in 3/4 CLY after the amalgamation. In April 1945 he was given command of "B" Squadron after its disastrous mauling in the last days of the war.
After the war Jimmy stayed on in Kiel in the Military Government, and returned to the UK in 1951. He re-entered the catering and hospitality trade, where he had worked before the war. He joined the re-embodied 3/4 CLY, commanded HQ Squadron, and was awarded the MBE. He served until 1963, and thereafter for some years he gave much of his time to the Surrey Cadet Force.