He enlisted in the Black Watch Royal Highlanders of Canada in June 1942 and was appointed an official war artist in April 1943. He painted in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland in 1943 before being sent overseas. In Europe, he was posted to Italy where he spent most of his time painting armoured units. He then followed operations in Holland and Germany. When he was demobilized in October 1946, he resumed his career as an artist in Montreal and obtained a number of commercial contracts. He designed the windows for the main Simpson's store. He became an associate member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 1953.