 Kutevera kutanga kweHondo Yenyika Yechipiri, muna September 1939, Alexander akaunza 1st Division kuFrance, uko yakava chikamu cheBritish Expeditionary Force BEF uye yakashanda ikoko kwemwedzi misere yakatevera. Muna May 1940, apo Hondo yeGermany yakapinda muFrance, akabudirira kutungamirira kubviswa kweboka racho kuDunkirk, uko rakabudiswa kuEngland, pamwe chete navamwe vose veBEF. Nguva pfupi mushure mekunge Major General Bernard Montgomery agadzwa kutungamira II Corps uye pamberi pe3rd Division, Alexander aive, achiri pabhiriji, akaiswa kutungamira I Corps, uye akasiya mole yekumabvazuva pane inoparadza Venomous mukupera kwaJune 2 mushure mekuona kuti mauto ese eBritish abviswa. Mukuonga mabasa ake mumunda kubva muna March kusvikira kuna June 1940, Alexander akadudzwazve mumashoko. 