In the Second World War he served in the Royal Army Service Corps, during which time he was Mentioned in Despatches.

He wrote the following books, under the name Cardigan: Youth goes East, 1928; The Amateur Pilot, 1933; The Wardens of Savernake Forest, 1949; I Walked Alone, 1950; The Life and Loyalties of Thomas Bruce, 1951.

After succeeding to his father's titles, he wrote two more books, under the name Ailesbury: The History of Savernake Forest, 1962; Setting My Watch by the Sundial, 1970.

His first book, Youth Goes East, chronicled his journey across Europe in a sponsored car, with his wife and a friend.

The whole trip was an elaborate advertising campaign sponsored by a prominent car company, to show off the durability of their new model.

In the process, the book made many observations about parts of Europe that were still crumbling with decay in the wake of the First World War some 10 years prior.

After his escape, he made his way through Europe on foot, down through France to Spain, all the while taking notes of his exploits, which were later published into his fourth book in 1950, I Walked Alone.

Meanwhile, at his home in Wiltshire, his father was overseeing the transformation of the family estate and its dense forest into a vast munitions depot for the army.

At the conclusion of the war in Europe, Cedric was chosen to set up and run several Displaced persons camps.

Upon retiring from active duty in 1945, and returning to England, Cedric took up residence once more at one of the houses on the family estate in Wiltshire.

In the process of making way for the school, Cedric went into the basement, and found hundreds of boxes full of old family documents.