The son of Arthur and Sylvia of Gas Place, St Helier and later of Aylesbury House, Five Oaks, St Saviour. Prior to the war he lived at First Tower, St Helier.

Trained in Ireland and Aldershot before going to the front with the Jersey Company in December 1916. In March the following year he undertook a sniping course. One month later, in April 1916, he was evacuated to England suffering from trench foot. Returning to front line service he fought at Guillemont in September 1916, taking part in a night-time patrol to establish German positions. Later, his commanding office that night wrote to his parents saying 'he had helped with heroic bravery to accomplish the task of getting information about the location of the enemy which three previous attempts by other had failed'

Wounded in the arm by an explosive bullet during the patrol, he was evacuated to Beechfield Hospital, Southampton. Specialist treatment, including a spell in London, followed but failed to save his arm from amputation. In August 1917 he was discharged from the Army as no longer fit for military service.

Immediately after the war he lived at 16 Hue Street, St Helier.