Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: A mụrụ Osborne na Orange, New South Wales, ma gụọ akwụkwọ na North Sydney High School na Sydney Church of England Grammar School. Ọ gụsịrị akwụkwọ na mahadum nke Sydney na ngalaba iwu. Ọ sonyeere Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve na 1938, na ntiwapụ nke Agha Worldwa nke Abụọ, e zigara ya na Royal Navy na 1940. E nyere ya ihe nrite nke Distinguished Service Cross n'afọ 1940 maka "obi ike na itinye onwe ya n'ọrụ" mgbe ọ na-enyere ndị agha ahụ aka.
mwepụ nke ndị agha si Norway dị ka sub-lieutenant na "St Loman", otu trawler nwere ngwa agha. O mechara duzie, ma soro, ụgbọ mmiri n'etiti United States na Canada na United Kingdom na Agha Atlantic. Ọ gafere Atlantic ugboro iri abụọ na abụọ ma bụrụ naanị onye isi ndị Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve nke gbagoro n'ọchịchị nke ndị Royal Navy n'oge agha ahụ. N'afọ 1945, a gbakwunyere Bar na DSC ya maka imebi ụgbọ mmiri U-boat nke Germany.