The 1901 Census has him living as a 'boarder' with a De Carteret family of St John, with no reference to parents. Prior to the war he lived at Greenfeilds, St John and worked as an Agricultural Laborer

Wounded in October 1916. After transferring to the 2nd Battalion, Hampshire Regiment in January 1918 with the rest of the Jersey Company he was wounded again May 1918 in left thigh and knee. Sent to Netley Hospital, England he was unable to return to active service, but well enough to join the 300th Company of the Royal Defence Corps. Discharged from the Army in March 1919.