 By 1938, he was working for the Department of Water Supplies, and moved frequently with his young family as work demanded.He signed up for the Royal Australian Air Force in 1941, but was rejected on medical grounds and was officially discharged on 9 February 1942.Around the same time, he settled in Innaloo and joined the Electricity and Gas Department of the Perth City Council (which became part of the State Electricity Commission soon afterwards) as a linesman's assistant, and in 1949 he was promoted to linesman.