Terence Otway took up the post of Battalion Intelligence Officer in Hong-Kong. He was additionally responsible for decoding messages arriving from the Foreign Office. The Battalion was subsequently deployed to Shanghai and was the target of Japanese attacks.  It was Terence Otway’s baptism of fire.

Terence Otway was promoted to Lieutenant as Battalion Signals Officer.
The Battalion moved from China to India but life there did not suit him. On his way back to England he was to learn that he had been selected for promotion to Captain in the 1st Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles.

Terence Otway was once more in the United Kingdom. War was about to be declared on Germany. In August 1939 he married Stella. Another chapter began, one that would be decisive…

In November 1940, Terence Otway was promoted to Major. He commanded 31st Independent Reconnaissance Squadron. Later this unit would become 1st Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron.
The Squadron was based in Wales.

In 1942 Terence Otway was stationed in Iceland. There he was the “Polar Bear” Division. This period in Iceland would last just a few months.
Terence Otway returned to England.

Terence Otway was appointed to the War-Office and was responsible for briefings and briefing papers for the War Cabinet. A strategic appointment for anyone who wanted to manage his career in the right direction. He
Rubbed shoulders with all the key elements of the War Office, the War Cabinet, Combined Operations HQ, Special Operations Executive, the Admiralty, Joint Operations HQ etc.
Also, Terence Otway, because of his duties, was able to follow the course of the war on a day to day basis and got to know many key personalities. He enhanced his officer qualities so that he could make sense of a mass of information and come up with a clear and practical plan. Essential experience...

In mid 1943 Terence Otway rejoined the Royal Ulster Rifles.
However his Commanding Officer informed him that he had en establishment of only eight majors, and there were already ten. Consequently Terence Otway found himself in a situation where he might have to revert in rank. Unthinkable for a man of his intellect and character. He refused there and then; that was it! He saluted the Commanding Officer and left.

Terence Otway left for Australia.
Major General Richard Gale nominated Terence Otway as Second in Command of the 9th Battalion The Parachute Regiment. From October 1943, Terence Otway was an officer of The Parachute Regiment.

April 1944: Brigadier James Hill, at Bulford Camp, announced to Terence Otway his promotion. He was to Commanding Officer of the 9th Battalion.
The invasion of Europe was planned.
He learnt that his battalion had been assigned a very special mission. It was to neutralise a heavily defended German coastal gun battery.
Terence Otway was told no more. It was simply stressed to him that this objective was one of the major components of 6th Airborne Division’s assault plan for D Day. It was a vital objective for the success of Operation Overlord.  Terence Otway was given carte blanche to develop his plan... he should develop it as rapidly as possible…

Terence Otway was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.
Terence Otway remained in the Army for two years or so after the end of the War.  He resigned his commission in 1948.