Walter Graham ("Bill") Scott-Brown was born in London on 17 February 1897, the eldest son of George Andrew Scott-Brown and Louise (née Tindall). His father was city manager of the C M & G Insurance Company. Bill, as he was known to all his family and friends, saw active service as a combatant off

Illtyd James was born in Barry, Glamorgan, on 12 July 1900, the eldest son of Evan Thomas James, a master tailor, and Elizabeth Jones, a farmer's daughter. He was educated at Barry County School, where he held a county scholarship, and later at University College Cardiff (where he took a BSc in 1921

Reginald Watson-Jones was born on 4 March 1902 and received his medical education at Liverpool University, where after taking the BSc with first class honours in 1922 he qualified in medicine in 1924. He was a brilliant student and an excellent speaker, and he won most of the prizes in medicine at h

Terence Edward Cawthorne was born on 29 September 1902. He was educated at Denstone College and King's College Hospital, and qualified with the Conjoint Diploma in 1924. He held a number of resident posts, and first made an impact on his seniors and colleagues when he showed great aptitude in applyi

Claye was born in Brigg, Lincolnshire, on 18 July 1896, the son of a clergyman; his mother was the sister of the first Lord Moynihan. He was educated at Lancing College and Leeds University. His studies were interrupted by the first world war, during which he served in the 4th Dorset Regiment in Ind

Benjamin William Rycroft was born in a small village in Yorkshire in 1902. In his youth he learned to play the organ well enough to do so in his parish church and thus was mildly attracted to the ministry as a profession. Instead, he studied medicine in St Andrew's University (1919-1924) and after q