Prior to enlistment served with the Samoa Reserve Force. A resident in New Zealand for one week prior to his enlistment in Auckland on 1 April 1917. Embarked 26 October 1917 and posted to 7th Company 3rd Battalion Wellington Infantry Regiment in France. Admitted to 2nd NZ Field Ambulance sick on 1 January 1918 and was transferred to the 63rd Casualty Clearing Station on 6 January 1918 and then to 13th General Hospital Boulogne on 10 January 1918. After time at 8th Rest Camp when he was transferred to the New Zealand Depot Unit of Supply, Marseille, he transferred to the Rarotongan Company 7 May 1918 and embarked for Egypt 16 May 1918. Posted to the Rarotongan Company 1 July 1918. Returned with Rarotongan Company on SS Malta and discharged in New Zealand on 10 March 1919 stating that he intended to return to Samoa.