Statutory declaration, 8 December 1916: stated that he was born 'on or about' 29 May 1876', thus giving his age as 40 years 8 months, rather than his declared age of 35 years 5 months when enlisting.

War service: Western Front

Embarked Melbourne, 11 May 1917; disembarked Plymouth, England, 18 July 1917, and marched into No 1 & 3 Details Camp, Parkhouse.

Found guilty, Parkhouse, 31 July 1917, of being absent from early morning parade, 30 July 1917: awarded 3 days' confined to camp.

Found guilty, Parkhouse, 17 August 1917, of being absent without leave from 2400, 16 August, to 1200, 17 August 1917: forfeited 1 day's pay.

Proceeded overseas to France, 18 August 1917; taken on strength, 3rd Tunnelling Company, in the field, 5 September 1917.

Admitted to No 1 Casualty Clearing Station, 4 January 1918; transferred to 7th Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, 6 January 1918; to England, 10 January 1918, and admitted to Royal Herbert Hospital, Woolich (bronchitis). Transferred to No 3 Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 23 January 1918; discharged on furlough, 28 January 1918, to report to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 11 February 1918.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Dunvegan Castle', 13 March 1918; discharged, Brisbane (medically unfit: chronic bronchitis), 25 June 1918.