Reid was born in London on 10 January 1903, the son of Sir James Reid, 1st Baronet (1849–1923), a distinguished doctor who served at the royal court, by his wife Honourable Susan Baring (1870–1961), daughter of the banker Edward Baring, 1st Baron Revelstoke.

[2] He served in World War II in operations off Norway and then off Algeria before taking part in the Battle of Cape Matapan in 1941.

[2] He was Chief Signal Officer to Field Marshal Lord Wavell during defence of the East Indies in 1941 and then served on the staff of Sir James Somerville, Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Fleet, in 1942 before becoming deputy director of the Signals Division in 1943.

[2] He was appointed Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth in 1951 and Second in Command of the Mediterranean Fleet in 1954.

[2] He lived in Bolton in East Lothian[3] and in retirement was a Member of the Livingston New Town Corporation.