Born at Ballarat, Victoria, Wesleyan. Enlisted 4 February 1917 age 22, boot maker. Nok mother, Mary Jane Lanyon of St Leonards St, Cottesloe Beach. An attestation paper in his file shows he was previously rejected having a missing left thumb, but this is not mentioned under distinctive marks on his medical report. Embarked at Albany on 24 July 1917 per Port Melbourne. Service papers show he was admitted to hospital on 18 August 1917 in Cape Town, South Africa en route to England. Served in France 1918. RTA May 1919 per Leicestershire. Service medals: BWM and VM.