Born in 1897, he joined the Public Service as a Clerk in the Local Courts Department in 1913 and transferred to the Police Court in 1917. He became the first Associate Clerk to the Judge of the Adelaide Local Court in 1925, and was appointed Deputy Clerk of Courts the same year. He served with the R.A.A.F. during World War II (1941-1946) and rose to the rank of Squadron Leader. He was appointed Secretary to the Police Department in 1948, and Commissioner of Police in 1950.