he was born at gateshead, county durham, england. during the first world war he served with no. 2 squadron of the rnas armoured cars in russia against the bolsheviks, by whom he was captured at kursk though subsequently released. he moved to australia in 1918. between 1923 and 1935 he led 14, mainly gold prospecting, expeditions through inland australia; he wrote several books about his experiences.