 He was the fifth child in a family of ten born to Christopher Colbeck, a baker, and his wife Martha.Educated at Hull Grammar School, Colbeck served a merchant navy apprenticeship on the Loch Torridon between 1886 and 1890 and completed a six-month course in navigation before going to sea.He earned his second mate's certificate in Calcutta in 1890, first mate's certificate in July 1892, master's in March 1894.