He joined the Union Bank of Australia at a young age and was stationed at Cowra. Here he met Canowindra girl Stella Jolliffe and they were married on 21 January 1929. The newlywed's first son, Reginald Bruce (Bruce) was born on 7 September 1929 and he was followed by James Ballantyne (Jim) on 18 October 1935.
Reg served with the AIF as a Gunner in both the Middle East and New Guinea during World War Two. He was 33 years old when he sailed for the Middle East, where he served in Syria, Beirut and Palestine. He and Stella divorced in 1942 and he married Win Hannigan in 1949. They lived at Ashfield for a time with Reg's sons, Bruce and Jim, before their son Geoffrey was born on 31 December 1950. In later years, Reg, Win and Geoffrey lived at Gymea.
Reg returned to a banking career after the war. He had inherited his father's aptitude for figures and was able to mentally add up a column of pounds, shillings and pence in one pass. After he retired from the bank, Reg undertook volunteer work with the Salvation Army.
Reg died at his home in the Sydney suburb of Gymea on 22 May 1984.