Ernest Cowell was born on 24 February 1886, son of Jasper Cowell of Steyning, Sussex, and was educated at Steyning Grammar School and University College Hospital Medical School where he graduated in 1907, taking the Conjoint Diploma the same year, and went on to take his MD degree in 1909 and the Fe

Born in 1884, James Turton was the son of a surgeon who practised in Brighton. He was educated at Epsom College and St Bartholomew's Hospital. He passed the Conjoint examination in 1907 and graduated MB BS in 1909, becoming FRCS two years later. He was house surgeon to Sir Crisp English at St George