From 1942 to 1946, he served with the New Zealand Military Forces, partly in the Army Education Service.
[citation needed] He was renowned as a superb lecturer, lively, cogent and persuasive.
A man of great determination and energy, he was a noted broadcaster and a writer for periodicals.
From 1966 until its closure in 1992, the Mercury grew to become New Zealand's largest, most prolific professional theatre company.
[citation needed] Reid died prematurely, on 31 May 1972, leaving a wife, Joyce, six sons and a daughter.