After being educated at Diocesan College in Rondebosch, he started working at the Standard Bank in 1930.

He joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) on 1 July 1929 on a part-time basis while still working at the bank until the start of World War II, when he signed up to the South African Navy full-time on 4 September 1939 and was promoted to lieutenant on 12 November the same year.

[1][2] On 1 May 1946, he joined the SA Navy Permanent Force and was given the rank of lieutenant-commander.

On 4 January 1948 while in command of the Loch-class frigate HMSAS Transvaal, the Marion and Prince Edward islands were annexed from Great Britain.

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