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

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

John Talbot was a popular and highly regarded graduate of St Mary's Hospital Medical School and surgeon at Harold Wood Hospital. Born on 12 August 1912 in Wales, he was educated at Llandovery College. Like others at Mary's he had played rugby as a schoolboy for Wales. He was in the legendary pre-sec

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

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

Claude Bertram Russell Mann was a general surgeon at the Royal Brisbane Hospital. Born in Cairns, Queensland on 30 March 1918, he was the son of Edgar Stanley Mann, an accountant, and his wife Grace Priscilla née Mayers. He was educated at Cairns State School, Eagle Junction (Brisbane) State School

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

Denis Westgarth Lacey was born on 14 March 1914. He was educated at the Perse School, Cambridge, and St Edward's School, Oxford, before proceeding to the Middlesex Hospital Medical School where he qualified in 1937. He joined the RAMC in 1939, was taken prisoner at the evacuation of Dunkirk and rema

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

Gerard William Taylor was born in Natal, South Africa, on 23 September 1920, the son of William Ivan Taylor, an engineer. His early education was at Bemrose School, Derby, and he then entered St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College, qualifying in 1943. After junior hospital appointments he served

Athol George Riddell was born in Whitstable on 31 January 1917. He was educated at Folkestone and University College, London, where he gained the Gold Medal in physiology, graduating from University College Hospital Medical School in 1939. After holding a resident surgical post on the Professorial U

Douglas Tooms was a consultant surgeon to the Mid Worcestershire Hospital Group. He received his medical education in Cardiff and was a house surgeon and house physician at Cardiff Royal Infirmary. He was a resident surgical officer at the Gordon Hospital, a registrar at Warneford Hospital, Leamingt