In World War I he served with the First AIF in Egypt and Gallipoli.
He gained experience in sheep and cattle raising in New South Wales and the Far North of South Australia, Myrtle Springs Station (near Copley) and finally settled on a property at Mount Crawford.
He was a member of the Barossa District Council for 11 years.
He served as a member for the Midland district on the South Australian Legislative Council for the Liberal and Country League from 8 March 1947 to 9 October 1948.
[2] He married Mary Dorothea "Mollie" Matters of Unley Park on 2 April 1924; they had three sons: