Colmore was born at
Hathern,
Leicestershire on 14 September 1885 and in 1901 he enrolled, aged 15, as an
Officer Cadet at the
Thames Nautical Training College (also known as
HMS Worcester) in Dartford, Kent. In 1910, at his own expense, he joined the
Royal Aero Club and learned to fly at the
Royal Naval Flying School, Eastchurch. On 21 June 1910 he received Aviators Certificate No. 15 flying a
Short biplane. Following his success the RAeC approached the
Admiralty offering to train further
naval aviators. In 1917 Colmore was promoted
Squadron Commander in command of the
Wormwood Scrubs Royal Naval Air Station. ==Family==