macey was born in 1894, and joined the royal fusiliers when he was 15. he was captured early in the first world war, and spent most of the conflict as a prisoner of war. on his release, he acted as an interpreter for german prisoners of war in england, and after further tours of duty abroad, he returned to the middlesex area. after leaving the army, he worked for the electricity company in kingston, surrey, as a meter inspector.