Fred joined 2 Troop of No.5 Commando at Bridlington 1940.The author Robin Neillands in his book The Raiders quotes Fred as saying " It was in Scotland that No.5 Commando was issued with the Balmoral bonnet as the standard head-dress, and on it we wore our own regimental cap badges, over a green backing, with a gold coloured hackle. For an arm badge we had crossed fighting knives with the No.5." Fred is mentioned several times in this book relating to the attack on Hill 170.