dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə fˈɜːst wˈɜːld wˈɔːɹ hiː wʌz ɪmpɹˈɪzənd æz ɐ kˌɑːnsɪˈɛnʃəs ɑːbdʒˈɛktɚ, ænd lˈɜːnd ɛspɚɹˈæntoʊ wɪððə hˈɛlp ʌv fˈɛloʊpɹˈɪzənɚ mɔntˈɑːɡuː sˈiː. bˈʌtlɚ.
During the First World War he was imprisoned as a conscientious objector, and learned Esperanto with the help of fellow-prisoner Montagu C. Butler.