Emigrated to Australia with Doreen to set up business in cloth manufacturing. Returned after the mandatory 2 years though, due to not liking the environment.
Served in Royal Navy on HHMS Adrias in the Aegean Sea in WWII.
Decorated for his part in bringing his mined & badly damaged ship 500 miles back to safety after its bow had been completely blown away. This was done by beaching the damaged ship in order for it to be patched up before sailing it for the repairs. His regular letters home stopped for a 4-month period during these events. His family only knew that he was alive when the ship arrived in port after several months.
(recounted by Geoffrey Slater in 2003)
On October 22nd 1943 during operations in the Dodecanese and while near the island of Kalymnos with the British destroyer HMS HURWORTH she struck a mine. From the explosion her bow was cut off. HURWORTH, while trying to come to ADRIAS' rescue, also hit a mine and sunk taking down with her 143 men. In spite of the damages suffered, the ADRIAS managed to reach the nearby Turkish coast of Gumucluk with 21 men dead and 30 wounded. After some minor repairs the ship sailed on December 1st 1943 and in spite of the missing bow managed to reach Alexandria on December 6th where she was enthusiastically greeted by the British Fleet and other allied ships. This achievement is a brilliant example, underlining the courage and skills displayed by her CO. and his crew.
from http://www.hellenicnavy.gr/adrias_L-67_en.asp