His first job was with "Western Daily Press" and Allied Newspapers in Bristol started in 1905. This lasted until 1911 when he left to become a special writer on the staff of Edward Hulton and Co. in Manchester. He moved to London to work on the "Daily Mail" and "Daily Citizen" in Fleet Street, although he also worked in the propaganda section of Air Intelligence towards the end of the First World War. When it ended he joined the editorial staff of George Newnes as a sub editor of the "John O'London's Weekly". He didn't see eye to eye with the editor and after a big row in 1919 his employment was terminated.