Peter Blaxland was very much a family man, with a warm and welcoming manner and an appreciation of the simple pleasures of life. These characteristics concealed a considerable intellectual ability, and gave no hint of his understanding of the problems of surgery, and his gifts, both innate and culti

Eric Price Clarke was born on 14 October 1913 at Blackburn, Lancs, the only child of Lancashire-born parents; his father, a graduate of Manchester University, was a schoolmaster, later joining the Home Office as an Inspector of Factories. Eric was educated at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Blackbur

Kenneth Peter Somerville Caldwell was a consultant surgeon in Exeter. He was born in Mussoorie, India, on 1 October 1914, the son of Kenneth Somerville Caldwell, a professor of chemistry, and Gertrude Elizabeth Caldwell née Sailman. He was educated at Stoneygate School, Leicester, and then Charterho

Myer Glick was a general surgeon in New South Wales, Australia. Born in Leeds on 8 September 1913, he was the twelfth child and seventh son of Isaac Norman Glick, a businessman, and his wife Rachel née Berk. His father died prematurely while he was still young. His elder brother, Louis, who was the

Born on 2 March 1914, Thomas Fenwick was the son of William Stephen Fenwick FRCS of Charing Cross Hospital. He was educated at Sherborne, and then went on to study at Cambridge and St Thomas's Hospital, representing each of these institutions at rugby and cricket. He did house jobs at St Thomas's, b

John Withycombe was born in Exeter on 11 August 1918. the son of Arthur John Withycombe, a barrister, and his wife Winifred Annie, née Kiddle. He was educated at Sherbome, Pembroke College, Cambridge, and the Middlesex Hospital Medical School, where lie qualified in 1942. After only one house job

Colin Craig was born in Manchester on 11 November 1915, the son of Colin McKean Craig, a medical practitioner of Kendal, Westmorland, and Sophia Maud née McKinna, a nurse. He was educated at Monkton Combe School and St Bartholomew's Hospital. He completed junior casualty posts under Harold Rogers at

Brian Courtice was a senior consultant surgeon at the Royal Brisbane Hospital. Born in Mitchell, Queensland on 13 July 1920, he was the son of Charles Richard Henry Courtice, a textile merchant, and his wife Agnes Louise née Hooper, who was a tailoress. After primary education in Mitchell he attende

Evan Griffiths was a consultant surgeon at Bridgend Hospitals, South Wales. He was born into West Wales farming stock on 13 December 1916. His father, Edgar Griffiths, owned and ran a grocery business in Llanelli. His mother was Mary Evans. Early schooling was at Llanelli Grammar School, where he di

John Temple was born in Hong Kong on 10 December 1916, the eldest son of John Robinson Temple and Ruth Margaret, née Barrowclough, both of whom were Methodist missionaries. He won an exhibition to the Leys School, Cambridge, and later was awarded an entrance exhibition to St Bartholomew's Hospital f

Ronald Peatfield was a former consultant surgeon at Bedford General Hospital. Born on 28 December 1912 at Wilmslow, Cheshire, his father Thomas Crompton Peatfield was a railway executive. His mother was Mabel Brayshay Hughes. He was educated at Stowe and Queen's College, Cambridge, before going to t

Cyril Thomas (Tom) Collins was a consultant surgeon at the Wellington Hospital. Born on 28 April 1915 in Auckland, he was the son of Cyril George Collins and Mary Theresa Collins née O’Connor, the daughter of a building contractor. Both his father and grandfather became the Auditor-General of New Ze