 Graduating in 1924, he joined his first ship, the cruiser HMAS Brisbane, in 1925.He completed the Junior Officers War Course, at Greenwich, in Britain, graduating as one of six sub-lieutenants who "received their Lordship’s appreciation of essays written".Serving in a range of ships, in the normal style of developing his general abilities, he was promoted to Lieutenant in 1929, and ended the 1920s with a posting as Assistant Torpedo Officer in the cruiser HMAS Canberra, where he also gained his watchkeeping certificate.