George Frederick Grant Batchelor was born in Dundee on 6 April 1902, the son of Robert, a merchant and his wife, Margaret Grant, née Hill. He attended Dundee High School, then trained in medicine at St Andrew's University, University College, where he came first in operative surgery, pathology, ophthalmology, midwifery, mental diseases and zoology, and was awarded medals in these subjects. After a house appointment at Dundee Royal Infirmary he held a succession of posts at the West London Hospital, where he became senior surgeon. He was also surgeon to Wembley and Hounslow Hospitals, and was consultant surgeon to Charing Cross Hospital. During the second world war he was surgeon-in-charge at the West London Hospital in the Emergency Medical Service from 3 September 1939 to 30 April 1942 when he joined the RAMC and served as Lieutenant-Colonel in Iraq, India, Ceylon, Belgium and Germany, until 20 May 1946. His principal hobbies were rugby football, golf and shooting. He married Helen Elspeth Mackintosh Simpson, the daughter of Colonel CH Simpson of the Yorkshire