Orde was born on 18 December 1888 in Norfolk, the second of five children. He attended Framlingham College 1902-07. His parents were Sir Julian Walter Orde (14 January 1861 – 17 June 1929) and Alice Georgiana Orde (née Archdale) (1862–1945) of Hopton House, Hopton, Norfolk. He was also an early member of the Royal Aero Club of the United Kingdom, serving on its committees as early as 1909. It may be from here that his sons got their impetus to join the Royal Flying Corps.