He served in the British Army during WW1, and rose to the rank of Corporal. There are photos of him with Corporal stripes. His son, James, believes he was a wheelwright during the war. Extracts from some diary notes show him at or near the front line in some of 1917 and 1918.
At the time of his marriage his residence, as on his Marriage Certificate, was 396 Allison St, Glasgow. Married at 441 Victoria Rd, Glasgow, Scotland