Born at Invercargill, New Zealand in 1901, he was educated at Southland Boys High School and Otago University, Dunedin. After qualifying he held resident posts in New Zealand and was senior house surgeon at Dunedin Hospital. In 1926 he was awarded a Dominion scholarship for study in England, and he was in succession house surgeon to ETC Milligan at the Seamen's Hospital, to Canny Ryall at All Saints Hospital, to Victor Bonney at Freemasons' Hospital and the Chelsea Hospital for Women, and to J A Willett at the City of London Maternity Hospital. In 1932 he went to Liverpool, where he remained for the rest of his life, and was appointed first resident obstetric assistant and registrar under Leith Murray at Liverpool Maternity Hospital, becoming assistant obstetric surgeon in 1935. In 1943 he became a member of the staff of Liverpool Women's Hospital, and in 1951 visited the USA to deliver the Joseph Price Oration to the American Association of Obstetricians, Gynaecologists and Abdominal Surgeons. Later in 1951 he was visiting professor in Egypt at the Abassia Faculty of Cairo University and at the Farouk University in Alexandria. He was an external examiner at the University of Dublin, and wrote, in particular, on lower uterine Caesarian section which he did much to popularise. A gifted speaker, he had a mastery of prose in his writings and an extensive knowledge of literature. In addition he was a good linguist, especially in German. Occasionally he would slip away to watch a game of cricket, a game he had played well in his younger days. A shy generous man of great courage, he faced premature death with fortitude. He died in Liverpool on 21 September 1954 aged 53, survived by his widow, son and daughter.