He was born in Auckland in 1920, probably at Sherwood Ave. Grey Lynn, Auckland. He attended several primary schools in Auckland, such as Grey Lynn, Richmond Rd., Kohimaramara and Glen Eden, and country schools at Warkworth and Taurikura (near Whangarei). He also attended Seddon Technical College for a couple of years.

On finishing school he joined the N.Z. Railways as a Fireman on the locomotives. When W.W.2 started this became a reserved occupation, so he was not able to enlist in any of the Services until about 1943, when he enlisted in the RNZN as a Stoker and and eventually served in Corvettes in the South Pacific. One of these Corvettes was the RNZN "Kiwi".

After Naval Services he rejoined the NZ Railways as an Engine Driver, where he stayed for several years. He the worked at the Kawa Kawa Hospital where he was in charge of the Boiler Room at the hospital. He also joined the Kawa Kawa fire brigade. He never married and there were on children. AWMM