 He had signed with Williamstown until the end of 1944, but when VFA competition was suspended from 1942 until 1944 due to World War II, his career at Williamstown came to an end.He joined the army in 1942, and was forced to move on after a knee injury when in Darwin, Northern Territory.In 1945, Fothergill returned to the VFL – back at Collingwood, having never formally been cleared from the club.