Born on 28 February 1872 at Uduul, Jaffna, Ceylon, the second child and eldest son of William Thiliampalam Paul, a medical practitioner, and Ambrosia Ponamma, his wife. He was educated at the Central College, Jaffna, and at Wesley College, Colombo, before entering the medical school of Presidency Co

Born on 29 November 1876 second child and eldest son of Thomas Henry Edwards, a farmer, of Compton Farm, Enford, who died in 1879 aged 26, he was brought up by his grandmother. Edwards was educated at Ardingly College and St Thomas's Hospital, where he was house surgeon. He was in general practice a