bˈɔːɹn ðə sˈʌn ʌv kˈɜːnəl ˈɛf.ˈeɪtʃ.dʒˈiː. plˈeɪfɛɹ ʌvðə hˈæmpʃɚ ɹˈɛdʒɪmənt ænd ˈɛdʒuːkˌeɪɾᵻd æt tʃˈɛltənˌæm kˈɑːlɪdʒ, plˈeɪfɛɹ dʒˈɔɪnd ðə ɹˈɔɪəl ˌɛndʒɪnˈɪɹz ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːtiːn.
Born the son of Colonel F.H.G. Playfair of the Hampshire Regiment and educated at Cheltenham College, Playfair joined the Royal Engineers in 1913.