When the First World War broke out in 1914, he volunteered for the territorial force most closely associated with his school, the Leeds Rifles Prince of Wales' Own West Yorkshire Regiment.
[3] He was injured in fighting in the Battle of the Somme in July 1916 and was repatriated to Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill.
[4] In May 1917, he was seconded for duty with the British Indian Army,[5] where he served with 3rd Skinner's Horse.
[11] Batting once in the match, he scored 2 runs in the Oxford first innings before he was dismissed by Charlie Kelleway, while with the ball he took the wickets of Kelleway and Bert Oldfield in the Australian Imperial Forces first innings, conceding 35 runs.
[12] He relinquished his commission in the West Yorkshire Regiment in September 1921, retaining the rank of captain.