Eric Edwards was the eldest son of Colonel C E Edwards DSO, a solicitor and Liberal councillor. He attended Felsted School, and gave up his early hope of becoming a diplomat to enter his father's firm of solicitors, after taking an LLB at the University of London. He joined the Essex Yeomanry, which in World War II became 147th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery. He fought in the invasion of France, winning a Military Cross in 1944, and gaining the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was commanding officer of the Essex Yeomanry in 1945–6.