He was born in Wellington, Shropshire on the 17th June 1871.  He was a saddler prior to enlistment. He enlisted in Birmingham in 1891. He was promoted to Sgt in 1903.  He was discharged in 1912 having served 21 years.

He  was recalled in 1913 at Plymouth. He served in the defence of Antwerp 1914. His mother  was his next of kin and she lived at Victoria House, Denbigh, N Wales.

He married Catherine Phillips at Hawarden in 1914. The 1914 Star was issued to her in 1920. His stepson Robert N Phillips was also killed in the war and he has his own page on this website.