He moved to New Zealand in 1902, where he was an Anglican vicar at Te Aroha then Opotiki. He was living at St Heliers, Auckland when he applied to be a chaplain in WWI, recommended by Arthur Myers an Auckland MP and former mayor. As there were no chaplain vacancies in the NZEF, he was sent as a chaplain (Army No. 19/2131) to Samoa He served with the Samoa Relief Force in 1915 for 213 days, from 30 March to 28 October. He was sent home early by Colonel Logan, and a confidential report by the Anglican Bishop of Auckland (who did not know him personally, as he was not a vicar in his diocese) to the Minister of Defence said he was an adventurer and "cad", He died in Auckland in 1934.