The son of Tom and Jane, of Six Roads, St Lawrence. Prior to the war he was married with one childe to Mabel (his wife may have died), lived in Beresford Street, St Helier, and working as a Carpenter.

As a trained carpenter he spent some time in 1915 seconded to war work while in Ireland training. In 1916, after training as a cook, he moved to serve with the 16th (Irish) Division pioneers. Returning to the Jersey Company, he moved with it to 2nd Hampshire Regiment in January 1918. After serving throughout 1918 with that unit, he joined the Royal Engineers in January 1919.