A veteran of the Estonian War of Independence, Torma was awarded the Order of the Cross of the Eagle, 1st Class, in 1936.
August Torma was educated at St. Petersburg University, then attended Vladimir Military Academy.
Torma was mobilized into the Russian Imperial Army during World War I and served as an officer.
Torma was attached to the British expeditionary force as the Estonian representative during the North Russia Campaign, serving in the area of intelligence.
[1] August Torma was also responsible for the founding of the Estonian Lutheran Church congregation in London.