After graduation, Griffiths was posted to the Royal Navy for further training and joined the battle cruiser HMS Repulse.
He was promoted to lieutenant in 1944 and awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in May 1945 "For gallantry, skill and devotion to duty while serving in HMS Shropshire in the successful assault operations in the Lingayen Gulf, Luzon Island.
As commander of HMAS Melbourne, he assisted in relief operations in Darwin after Cyclone Tracy hit in 1974.
[1] Griffiths was personnel director of Wormald International from 1980 to 1983 and was the national president of the Australian Veterans and Defence Services Council from 1980 to 2004.
[7][8] He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the 1979 Queen's Birthday Honours "for service to the Royal Australian Navy over a period of forty-two years and particularly as Chief of Naval Personnel.