all matters concerning promotion. In effect, Griffiths became adjutant general of the AIF, and it would be through him that Birdwood administered the AIF. For his work at Gallipoli and in the subsequent reorganisation of the AIF in Egypt, Griffiths was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). In May 1916, with Birdwood now commanding I Anzac Corps which was intended for service on the Western Front, Griffiths was promoted to lieutenant colonel and formally became Assistant Adjutant General of the AIF. On 8 April 1917, and against his wishes, Griffiths became acting commandant of the AIF Headquarters in London. He was promoted to full colonel and confirmed in the post on 12 May 1917. As such he was responsible for the entire administration of the AIF, the handling of pay and promotions, the recording of deaths and casualties, the postal services and record keeping. Griffiths was also the representative of the Department of the Defence in dealings with the British War Office. On 1 January 1918, he became a temporary brigadier general. The war ended with Griffiths in Australia, having travelled there to work out medical policy with the Department of Defence. The armistice rendered his task moot, and he returned to London in December and resumed duty at AIF Headquarters for several months. He was discharged from the AIF on his return to Melbourne in September 1919. He was highly thought of by his superior, Brigadier General Brudenell White and Charles Bean wrote that he "was one of the great figures of the Australian Army." For his work, Griffiths was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in January 1917 and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in January 1919. Post war In March 1920, Griffiths became Inspector General of Administration at the Department of Defence but this was only for a short period before he took up an appointment as Administrator of New Guinea the following month. He served in this role for nearly a year. In 1921, he became Administrator of Nauru, a post he held until 1927, when he retired. His retirement was short lived; in 1929 he became head of the Commonwealth War Pensions Entitlement Appeal Tribunal. He returned to New Guinea as Administrator from 1932 to 1934, after which he retired. He attempted to come out of retirement again in 1938, when