Born in 1908, son of Brigadier-General G H Ovens CB, he was educated at St Mary's Hospital, where he later served as surgical registrar, and at the London Hospital; he was for a time assistant medical officer at the LCC St James's Hospital. During the war of 1939-45 he served in the RAMC, and after

John Robert Blackburne, known as 'Robin', was a consultant surgeon at Hull Royal Infirmary. He was born on 27 August 1909, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where his father, John Devereux Blackburne, was a banker. His mother was Francisca, née Lopez. Robin was sent home to school, at Berkhamstead, from w

Wilfred Carlisle Barber was born at Manchester on 2 June 1907. His father was a medical practitioner who graduated MB ChB in Edinburgh in 1899. Barber was educated at Hulme Grammar School, Manchester, and Sutton Valence School, obtaining a leaving exhibition to St John's College, Cambridge. After ga

Robert Wallace (Bob) Nevin was born in Burton-on-Trent in 1907, the son of a general practitioner. He was educated at Clifton College and Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He joined St Thomas's Hospital Medical School in 1929 and had a distinguished undergraduate career, winning the Cheselden and Clutton

Geoffrey Myers was born on 24 January 1908. He passed the FRCS in 1937 and, during the second world war served with both the RAMC and the NZMC. He spent his career in general surgery working for such organisations as the United Fruit Company Inc. and the North and West Africa Socony Mobil Oil Compan

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, L

Henry Reynolds Thompson was born in Hampstead, London, on 14 February 1908 the son of Harold Theodore Thompson (1878-1935) MD, FRCP, FRCS, physician to the London Hospital (*Lives of the Fellows*, 1930-1951, p.764) and Elinor, née Waller (whose father was a dental surgeon in Alexandria). He was educ

Enid Rockstro was born on 17 December 1902 in Halesowen, Worcestershire, the daughter of Frank Braine Rockstro, a general practitioner, whose father was a leading flautist and musician of his time, and whose uncle was the well known musician, Sir William Rockstro. Her mother, Elaine Mary, née Ashby,

John Beal was born in London on 27 April 1906. His father, Richard Edward Bruce Beal, OBE, MC, was a solicitor, and his mother, Winifred Morgan, was the daughter of John Hammond Morgan FRCS, formerly senior surgeon at Charing Cross and Great Ormond Street, and a member of council. He entered Harrow

William Gordon Gill was born in Reigate on 3 January 1908. He was educated at Kingswood School, Seaford, and Marlborough College, from where he won an exhibition to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. From Cambridge he went to Guy's Hospital where he qualified in 1932; becoming FRCS in 1934 and M

Robert Gerrett Reid, the son of the Rev Dr James Reid, DD, a Presbyterian Minister and well-known preacher, and of Isa Reid (née Gerrett), a school mistress, was born at Oban, Scotland, on 21 September 1909. He was educated at Roborough School, Eastbourne, the Leys School, Cambridge, and Guy's Hospi

Oswald Tubbs was born on 21 March 1908 in Hadley Wood, Middlesex, the son of Sydney Walton Tubbs, a chartered accountant, and his wife Mabel, née Frost, a butcher's daughter. He was educated at Shrewsbury and at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, where he was an enthusiastic oarsman. Unhappily h