 An acting sub-lieutenant in the Royal Navy aged 17, he became a sub-lieutenant in 1931, and lieutenant in 1933.He became Lieutenant Commander at the start of 1941, at this time he commanded HMS Airdale and HMS Lookout (G32), was mentioned in dispatches in 1942, and became a Commander at the close of 1943, at this time he commanded HMS Garth (L20).In 1950 he was made Commodore.