Born in 1886, the only son of the Reverend W. C. Bourne in Barnet, Bourne was educated at Rydal School and at Downing College, Cambridge where, in 1908, he received a first class Natural Science Tripos. Granted a senior university scholarship, he entered St Mary's Hospital in 1908 and he qualified as an MRCS, LRCP in 1910. He obtained an MB, BCh, (Cambridge), and a FRCS (England) the following year). From 1910 to 1914 he was a resident and subsequently held other appointments at St Mary's, Queen Charlotte's, and the Samaritan hospitals. In 1912, he married Bessie Hayward, the eldest daughter of G. W. Hayward, with whom he had three daughters.