George Clayfield Sawyer was born on 14 August 1909 in Portsmouth where his father was a sports journalist, later becoming Clerk to the local Medical Committee before the introduction of the NHS. He was educated at Portsmouth Grammar School and Guy's Hospital. Deciding on a career in surgery he held

Philip Baron was born in Bulawayo on 30 June 1907, and received his early education at Milton School, where he excelled both academically and on the field of sport. He then proceeded to the University of Cape Town, where he graduated MB ChB in 1930. He was appointed to the Woodstock Hospital as hous

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

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

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

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

Roy Parkinson was born in 1911 and received his medical education at the London Hospital, whence he qualified with the conjoint diploma in 1932 and with the London MB BS the following year. After qualification he held posts as assistant orthopaedic surgeon at the East Ham Memorial Hospital and as su

Roland Lewis was born in Ystalyfera, near Swansea, on 23 November 1908, the third of five sons. His father, William James, who was from an old Cardiganshire family of farmers, trained in Edinburgh and became a GP and medical officer of health to the rural district of Pontardawe. His mother was Const

Leslie Lauste was a consultant general surgeon at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Hove General and the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Sick Children in Brighton. Born on 30 March 1908, he was the elder son of the famous French pioneer film cameraman, Emile Lauste, who was awarded the Croix de Guerre

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

William Bullock was born in Toxteth, Liverpool, on 6 October 1908, the son of Albert Edward Bullock, an engineer. He was educated at Liverpool Collegiate School before entering the University of Liverpool Medical School. He qualified in 1932 with first class honours and subsequently served in junior

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