dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə fˈɜːst wˈɜːld wˈɔːɹ, æz ɐ kˈæptɪn ɪnðə hˈæmpʃɚɹ ˈɛɹkɹæft pˈɑːɹks ɹˈɔɪəl flˈaɪɪŋ kˈɔːɹ tˌiːˈeɪ, bˈeɪst æt ðə ɹˈɔɪəl ˈɛɹkɹæft ɪstˈæblɪʃmənt, fˈɑːɹnbəɹˌoʊ, hiː wʌz ɛŋɡˈeɪdʒd ɪn ɛkspˌɛɹɪmˈɛntəl ɹᵻsˈɜːtʃ ˌɪntʊ ˈɛɹɪəl nˌævɪɡˈeɪʃən ænd ˈɜːli ˈɛɹəplˌeɪn kˈʌmpəsᵻz.
During the First World War, as a captain in the Hampshire Aircraft Parks Royal Flying Corps (TA), based at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, he was engaged in experimental research into aerial navigation and early aeroplane compasses.