On 2 January 1917, during World War I, Meyer volunteered for the Imperial German Navy, with the prospect of naval officer career.

After the end of World War I, Meyer was initially made available for training by the Imperial German Navy and from mid-December 1918 to early February 1919 was posted on leave.

Naval Brigade under Corvette Captain Wilfried von Loewenfeld and participated in fighting in the Ruhr area.

After successful training, Meyer was appointed the director of the 2nd Torpedo Boat Flotilla and promoted on 1 October 1935 to Korvettenkapitän.

From 15 July 1937, he served for two years as a military teacher at the Naval Academy and was then transferred as the 1st Admiralstabsoffizier in the staff of the Marine Group Command West.

On 16 April 1957, he served as Flotilla admiral in the Federal Ministry of Defence, where he was commanded to instruct the Naval Department from September 1957.