He married in 1918 with Lucy Louttit Gray (died 1950), youngest daughter of late William Henderson, Aberdeen.

He was educated at Rugby School; Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; Staff College, Camberley and Imperial Defence College.

Served in Royal Field Artillery and Royal Horse Artillery, in England and India, 1906-1914;
Served in France, 1914-1919 (Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross);
Operations North West Frontier India, 1930-1931 (Bar to Distinguished Service Order);
Brigade Major Royal Artillery, 17th Division, 1917-1919;
Brigade Major, School of Artillery, 1924-1925;
General Staff Officer Grade II. Staff College, Camberley, 1926-1929;
Military Assistant Secretary, Committee of Imperial Defence, 1933-1935;
Deputy Secretary, 1936;
Commandant, School of Artillery, Larkhill, 1936-1938;
Director of Military Operations and Intelligence, War Office, 1938-1939;
Chief of General Staff, British Expeditionary Force, 1939-1940;
Inspector-General of Home Guard, 1941;
Commanded British Troops in Northern Ireland, 1940-1941;
Vice-Chief of Imperial General Staff, War Office, 1941;
Commander-in-Chief, Far East, Dec. 1941 Jan. 1942;
Lieutenant-General, 1942;
Chief of Staff A.B.D.A. Command, Far East, Jan.-Feb., 1942;
General Officer Commanding Ceylon, March 1942-March 1943;
Commander-in-Chief Persia-Iraq. 1943;
Chief of Staff to Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia Command, 1943-1944.

He retired in 1945 and became a member of many associations such as Chairman Friary Meux Ltd.; Member Committee, Lloyds Bank, 8 Pall Mall, Chief Commissioner St. John Ambulance Brigade, 1947-1949; Vice-Chancellor Order of St. John, 1950. Chancellor 1951. G.C.St.J.

He died on 9 June 1961.

His awards include Knight Commander of the Bath, created in 1945 (Companion of the (Order of the) Bath 1938); Knight (Commander of the Order) of the British Empire created. 1940; Distinguished Service Order 1918; Military Cross; Colonel Commandant Royal Artillery, 1942-1952.

He was pictured on the cover of TIME magazine for the 12 January 1942 issue.