He embarked from Australia on the 14th of April, 1940, and would arrive in Kantara, Egypt on the 18th of May that same year. Between October and November, McCready briefly graded as a Motor transport driver, however he quickly relinquished this role and was made an acting Corporal on the 17th of November. On the 26th of March 1941, along with the rest of his Battalion he was sent to Greece where for two months he fought the Germans before being evacuated in May. Upon returning to the Middle East he requested to be returned to private.

Once Back in Egypt, McCready was once again Graded for Motor Transport Driving. Once he returned to his unit the Battalion was set to return to Australia and disembarked from Egypt on the 13th of February 1942, arriving home on the 5th of April. It is around this time it is believed he was issued the P17 tunic as a fresh replacement for his original one, which would be quite worn out by this stage.

For the next 2 years the 2\8th was stationed primarily in the Northern Territory, protecting it from a potential invasion by the Japanese, which never materialized.  During this time on the 18th of December 1943, McCready Committed an Offence amounting to "Conduct to the prejudice of good order". During this time, he also once again received motor transport grading.

On the 12th of November 1944, McCready was posted to New Guinea. Here he would remain with his unit for most of this time. In early September 1945 he returned to Australia. On the 14th of September he marched in for discharge and would officially be discharged a month later the 12th of October.

Over the course of his service, McCready completed 722 days of service in the middle east (Including time spent in Greece) as well as 309 days in New Guinea. On top of this he served just over one year stationed in the Northern Territory.