[8] In 1941, his regiment was dispatched to Syria, with him as adjutant, to join Operation Exporter, the allied invasion of territory controlled by Vichy France in the Middle East.

[1] After the battle, by which time he was a temporary major, Fitzpatrick was Mentioned in Despatches on 24 June 1943,[9] and later appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), announced in the London Gazette in October 1943.

[3] While commanding the regiment, Fitzpatrick helped capture the heavily-defended town of Tostedt, personally leading several reconnaissance missions.

[1] He was promoted brevet lieutenant colonel on 1 July 1951,[15] and then assumed command of the 1st Royal Dragoons in the Suez Canal Zone.

[3] On 20 February 1959, he was appointed an Aide-de-Camp to the Queen,[18] and later in the year, Lord Mountbatten of Burma selected Fitzpatrick to serve as the first Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff.

[20] In this position, Fitzpatrick became known as a "master tactician in the corridors of power" and distinguished himself as an expert in both the political and military realms,[3] he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1961 Birthday Honours,[21] and relinquished the post on 28 October 1961.

He was advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1965 Queen's Birthday Honours, by which time, and he had also been appointed honorary colonel of the Royals.

[32] During his time with the Northern Army Group, Fitzpatrick became well respected among his NATO colleagues "for his intellectual capabilities and for his finesse in dealing with international problems" and acquired a reputation as a soldier with particular skill for diplomacy.

[35] Because of his skill and good reputation, Fitzpatrick appointment as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR) was announced in April 1970,[36] he took up the post on 1 December 1970,[37] and was promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 1971 New Year Honours.