The years 1940-1950 saw Strachan's most prolific output of poetry, and two of his full-length poetry collections were published during this period, as follows:
- /1 Moments of time (London: Sylvan Press, 1947). Manuscript ownership inscription: M.J. Strachan.
- /2 The season's pause (London: Secker and Warburg, 1950). Manuscript inscription: "Woolley with love, Aug 1950, Walter". ["Wooley" was Strachan's wife Margaret].