 In 1970 he was appointed Commander of 12th Mechanised Brigade and in 1972 he became Deputy Military Secretary at the Ministry of Defence.He moved on to be Commander Land Forces at HQ Northern Ireland in 1975 at the height of the Troubles and then became Director, Infantry in 1977.He was made General Officer Commanding Scotland and Governor of Edinburgh Castle in 1980, before retiring from regular service in 1982.