At the age of 17, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force and served as a pilot in 1918 in the last year of World War I. He was trained as a mining engineer and worked for Brazilian Traction in South America and Ontario Hydro.
When he was 17, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force and served as a pilot in 1918, coinciding with the conclusion of World War I. Following his service, he transitioned into a career in mining engineering, taking on roles with Brazilian Traction in South America and Ontario Hydro.