Sandford was born at Barnstaple, Devon in June 1882. Before the First World War he was commissioned into the Royal Garrison Artillery and saw imperial Service in both India and the Sudan. First World War Sandford first arrived at the Western Front in France as a Captain in February 1915, and by May 1916 had been promoted to the rank of Major and was Officer Commanding of the 94th (Siege) Battery, R.G.A., leading it in action at Hebuterne in Artois in opening of the Somme Offensive on July 1, 1916 (Medal Index Card, & War Diary of 94th (S) Battery, RGA (WO/95/470), The National Archive, Surrey).