He was educated at Charterhouse School and Merton College, Oxford, where he gained a football Blue in 1934. After two years travelling in Asia and the Middle East, he became a barrister, called to the Bar at Inner Temple in 1938. He was commissioned into 64th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery in 1939, shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War, and was attached for some time to the skiing unit of the 5th Battalion Scots Guards.
He attended Charterhouse School and Merton College, Oxford, where he won a football award in 1934. After two years exploring Asia and the Middle East, he became a lawyer, admitted to the Bar at Inner Temple in 1938. He joined the military in 1939, just before World War II began, and was assigned to the skiing unit of the Scots Guards for a time.