Charles Philip Nicholas, 'Nick' to his friends, was born in Birmingham on 9 November 1913. His father was a dental surgeon. His maternal great uncle Charles Warden was an FRCS and founder of the Cripples' Hospital, Broad Street, Birmingham. He was educated at Bromsgrove School and the University of

Alan Birt was born on 24 June 1915, the son of the Surgeon Dentist to King George V and Queen Mary. Like his father, he was educated at Wellington College and St Thomas's Hospital, where he qualified with honours in 1937. He held a number of junior appointments there and was later appointed senior r

The son of Lt-Col A Macgregor Rose DSO, RAMC of Aberdeen, Ian Rose was born on 3 December 1912. He was educated at Oriel College, Oxford, and proceeded to St Bartholomew's Hospital where he graduated in 1937. After qualification he held several resident posts at Bart's and took his MA degree in 1938

John Leslie was born in Bath on 22 December 1914. His father, George Herbert Leslie, was a schoolmaster and inspector of schools for the London County Council, having served in the Royal Artillery in the first world war and then with the Army Education Corps. His early education was at Wellington

James Albert Rhind studied medicine at Leeds University where he graduated MB ChB with first class honours in 1937 and won the William Hey Gold Medal of the University. He worked as resident surgical officer to the Leeds Infirmary and was surgeon specialist in the RAMC during the second world war. H

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

Charles Gordon Scorer was born in Lincoln on 4 September 1912, the fourth child and first son of Charles Reynolds Scorer, a solicitor. He was educated at Seacroft Preparatory School, Skegness, Repton School and Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He qualified from the London Hospital in 1937, being appoint

Arnold Aldis was a consultant surgeon and former postgraduate dean at Cardiff. He was born on 30 September 1910, in Paoning, Szechuan, China, the son of missionary parents. He qualified in medicine (with honours) from University College, London, in 1937. His ambition to return to China was thwarted

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

John Alan East qualified in medicine in 1938 having trained at Guy's Hospital Medical School. He took the Conjoint Diploma in 1937 and the College Fellowship in 1939. He worked as consultant surgeon to the South East Metropolitan Hospitals Board in London. On moving to the USA he became surgeon to t

Born on 17 May 1914 at Wilsden, Yorkshire, George William Vause Greig was educated at Woodhouse Grove School, Apperley Bridge, and graduated in medicine with honours at Leeds in 1937. He joined the RAMC in 1939 and served in the Norway campaign of 1940 and later in India and Burma, attaining the ran

Katharine Branson was a consultant surgeon at the Bruntsfield and Longmore Hospitals, Edinburgh. She was born in London on 5 August 1912. Her father, Frederick Henry Ewart Branson, was a solicitor. Her mother was Helen Mary, née Brown, the daughter of a solicitor. Katharine was educated at Hall S