I returned to England in February 1919 to take over the duties of Assistant Director of Research and Development (Engines) under Brigadier-General Brooke-Popham, who was appointed Director of Research about the same date.

At that time it was anticipated (correctly) that there was no danger of another major war for at least ten years and the staffs of the Royal Air Force and the Air Ministry were cut down drastically to suit. The Engine Research and Development departments which had employed many hundreds during the war were reduced to about a dozen people. While this was being done the engine position as it existed was being examined. It soon became obvious that none of the engines which had been in production during the war were suitable for further development to meet the requirements of the 1920's.