The son of Walter and Elizabeth of David Place, St Helier. Prior to the war he appears to have been living in Nelson Street, St Helier.

After training in Ireland and Aldershot he went to the front with the Jersey Company in December 1915. In March 1916, he undertook a training course in Observation. Wounded the following month, he was evacuated for treatment at a hospital in Oxford. Recovered by the start of 1917, he served throughout that year and in January 1918 transferred to 2nd Hampshire Regiment along with most other remaining Jersey Company members. Now a Sergeant, during the fighting near Bailleul in April 1918, he was wounded in the chest by a bullet or shrapnel. Fortunately, a wallet absorbed most of the force and he survived. Evacuated once again for treatment, it is not clear whether or not he returned to active service.

Demobilised from the Army in May 1919, in the years immediately after the war he lived at 2 Saville Street, St Helier.