As a sergeant in the the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in the First World War he won the Distinguished Conduct Medal and Military Medal for separate deeds of bravery. According to a report in the Llanelli County Advertiser he ‘organised bombing parties against the enemy in dug outs and would not surrender’. On July 21st 1916 ‘during fighting in High Wood his platoon became scattered about and he succeeded in getting his men together in very difficult circumstances’. He was promoted in the field to Lieutenant.