The son of Eli and Bella, of Belmont Road, St Helier. Prior to the war he worked as a plumber.

While training in Ireland, in August his former profession led to him briefly departed to work in the munitions industry. He appears to have rejoined the rest of the Jersey Company by the time it left Aldershot for the front in December 1915.

Promoted to Corporal in April 1916, he served at the front until September that year when he was suffered shell-shock during the attach on Ginchy. After a short spell of treatment in Rouen, he returned to duty by the end of that month and was promoted to Sergeant. Hospitalised again in January 1917, possibly due to illness. Served through 1917, but unlike most other remaining Jersey Company members he did not transfer to the Hampshire Regiment in January 1918. Instead, he appears to have moved to 1st Royal Irish Rifles. While serving with this unit he was captured and made prisoner of war in March 1918.

He returned home to Jersey in January 1919, being discharged from the Army in April that year.