During World War I, he served with the 8th Royal Munster Fusiliers and the 27th Infantry Brigade, rising to the rank of captain,[1] and was awarded the Military Cross as well as the Belgian Croix de Guerre.
He worked in the Ministry of Finance of the Egyptian Civil Service (Egypt then being a British protectorate) in 1919–1920.
Subsequently he served in the Middle East Department of the Colonial Office and was awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours List of 1931.
[5][6] His later service included the following posts: Sir John was awarded the GCMG in the New Year's Honours List of 1950.
[10] After retiring from the colonial service, Sir John became a director of several companies, including the P&O and British India steamship lines, and the Midland Bank.