School cadet reaching rank of Cadet Warrant Officer Class 2

Joined Territorial Force Unit, 3rd Auckland (Countess of Ranfurly's Own) Regiment, commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant April 1942

April 1943 promoted in 3rd Auckland (Countess of Ranfurly's Own) Regiment to Lieutenant

1943 transferred to Royal New Zealand Navy Reserve where he served for the remainder of the war with operational service in European waters and the Pacific

Returned to civilian life and teaching

March 1951 applied to join Army Education & Welfare Service as an education officer, entered Army as Lieutenant on a contract of three years which was subsequently renewed for a further 3 years

During his term with the Army the position of Education Officers was recognised as a career within the forces and in 1956 he, by this stage a Captain and Captain Jack Gill were appointed to permanent positions.

Career included a variety of appointments culminating in position as Director of Defense Education

Promoted to rank of Major December 1959

promoted to rank of Lieutenant Colonel January 1967

February 1972 discharged from Regular Force and transferred to the Reserve of Officers, transferred from Reserves List 5 years later to Retired List

June 1982 was appointed to position of Colonel Commandant of the Royal New Zealand Army Education Corps, replacing Captain the Right Honourable Sir Wallace Rowling, serving until April 1987

Upon retirement was granted the rank of full Colonel in recognition of his long service to both the Royal New Zealand Army Education Corps and the New Zealand Army AWMM