Saint John's College
Desmond Percival Fitzgerald Uniacke, second son of Richard Gordon Fitzgerald Uniacke and his wife Cecilia Monica Lambert, was born on 18 December 1895 at 16 Tite Street in Chelsea, Middlesex, England. He was baptized at Saint Barnabas' Church in Pimlico, Middlesex on 16 January 1896. Desmond was one of five children, three of whom survived to adulthood. He was educated at Saint John's College in Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex, England. His father Richard Uniacke (1867–1934) was a librarian, archivist and genealogist. He served as assistant librarian of printed books at the College of Arms.