 Acland-Troyte was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge

Acland-Troyte was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, Devonshire Regiment on 11 November 1896.He transferred to the regular army with appointment as second lieutenant in the 4th battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps on 8 February 1899, and fought with his battalion in the Second Boer War one year later, where he was promoted to lieutenant on 25 January 1900, and was later dangerously wounded.He was with his regiment in Somaliland between 1903 and 1904 and was afterwards promoted to lieutenant.