 He followed in his father's footsteps in becoming a grazier but soon after the outbreak of World War One he joined the military and was the commanding Officer of the 25th Battalion in the Australian Military Forces and a major of the 11th Light Horse Regiment.He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for bravery during the charge of Semakh, on the Sea of Galilee on the 25 September 1918.This action was claimed to be the only charge ever made by the British Cavalry before daylight.