Samuel Ernest Birdsall was born on 14 February 1908 in Skipton, Yorkshire, the only son of James Ernest, an optician, and his wife, Eva. He attended Skipton Grammar School winning an open exhibition to Christ's College, Cambridge. His clinical studies were carried out at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, from whence he graduated in 1932. Junior hospital appointments at St Bartholomew's were followed by consultant appointments in otolaryngology to the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, the Woolwich and District War Memorial Hospital, the Paddington Green Children's Hospital and the Prince of Wales' Hospital, Tottenham. He served as a specialist in otolgy in the RAMC during the second world war holding the rank of Major. He wrote several articles including a chapter on the surgery of the larynx and trachea in *Modern operative surgery*, edited by Grey Turner and Lambert Rogers. His extra curricular activities were outdoor. He was a keen fisherman and enjoyed shooting. He died on 21 February 1985 and was survived by his two sons.