 He joined the Royal Navy in 1895 as a cadet, was confirmed as sub-lieutenant on 15 July 1900, and in 1901 was at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich.On 5 August 1902 he was appointed to the torpedo boat destroyer HMS "Success", serving in the Portsmouth instructional flotilla, and on 1 October 1902 he was promoted to lieutenant.He was appointed to HMS "Bacchante" in November 1902, as she commissioned to serve in the 3rd Cruiser Squadron, as part of the Mediterranean Squadron until 1904.