Victor Silvester Later life
 Silvester was born the second son of a vicar in Wembley, Middlesex. He studied at Ardingly College, Sussex; St. John's School, Leatherhead; and John Lyon's School, Harrow, from all of which he absconded. In 1915 he enlisted in the British Army during the First World War. He was only 15 years old and had to lie about his age in order to get in. His true age was not discovered until he was wounded in 1917 and discharged. During his time in the army, Silvester was ordered to take part in the execution by firing squad of five British soldiers for desertion, a task he found deeply distressing.
After the war his first thought was to resume a military career and he was admitted to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, but quickly decided it was not for him. He also studied music at Trinity College, London, having already had private piano lessons as a child.
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