[13][14] In 1940 he was advanced to lieutenant-colonel to command the newly raised 3rd battalion of the 1st Gurkha Rifles, stationed in Waziristan on the North West Frontier of India.

[1] Despite not having the ability to lead his battalion into battle, he still gave it "form and substance, and above all a unique self-confidence and character that would remain with it until disbandment at the end of the war".

[1] In October the brigade moved to the Arakan and in January 1944 took part in the division's attack down the Kalapanzin Valley to capture the only lateral route across the Mayu peninsula.

However, new tactics dictated that instead of retreating to protect supply lines, the division should hold firm forming defensive boxes to await relief from formations in reserve.

[16] In April 1944 the brigade was airlifted from the Arakan as part of the reinforcements sent to XXXIII Indian Corps at Kohima facing the Japanese U Go offensive and experienced heavy fighting throughout May until the end of the battle.

[17] In August 1944 Loftus-Tottenham was promoted to acting major-general[18] to command the 81st West African Division which held the left hand flank of XV Corps' front in the Arakan.

He also found the unit seriously short of non-commissioned officers since no British reinforcements had arrived; he therefore resorted to promoting Africans, who proved to be entirely satisfactory.

[20] The medal's citation reads: This role called for bold action and hard knocks and [Loftus Tottenham] drew two thirds of the garrison out of Akyab in the end.