Jeffrey Allan Gledhill was educated at the Wellington College, and enlisted with the Fleet Air Arm in November 1940. In 1946 he returned to New Zealand with his wife Margaret Gledhill (nee Armstrong), who he met while on leave in Lee-on-Solent in Southern England, Margaret served in Women's Royal Naval Service. In 1947, Margaret and Jeffrey moved to Australia where he enlisted with the newly formed Royal Australian Navy, Fleet Air Arm. He served with the 817 Squadron and then later with HMAS Sydney.

He served for the Australian Navy during the Korean War. In 1952 he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and posted to Nowra, and later promoted to commander, heading air operations at Nowra. In 1958 he was assigned to Australia House, London, then in 1960 he went to the RN Staff College at Greenwish, before returning to Canberra as director of air warfare, organisation and training. In 1964 he was promoted again, becoming the Naval Officer-in-Charge, Northern Australia. He retired in 1975. AWMM