Eric de la Torre was born in London to a Spanish father and Irish mother. He attended the John Fisher School in Croydon. In 1940 he was recruited to the accounts section of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, but he sought and obtained a transfer to No. 3 Commando. He took part in a commando raid on Vågsøy, Norway (Operation Archery) on 27 December 1941, in the capacity of radio operator. He was captured by the Germans during the raid on the dock at the Breton town of St Nazaire (Operation Chariot) in 1942.