Born on 5 September 1905, Brian Yarde was educated at Bedford School and at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell, where he received the Sword of Honour in 1926. During the Second World War he served in France, Malaya, and in the Middle East. In 1945, he was appointed as deputy director of Bomber Operations at the Air Ministry. Between 1947 and 1949 he was Station Commander of RAF Gatow during the Berlin Airlift, and between 1951 and 1953 he was Provost Marshal and Chief of the Royal Air Force Police. Between 1953 and 1954 he was Air Officer Commanding No. 62 Group, and between 1954 and 1957 he was Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment.