Born on 22 June 1888, son of Dr Arthur John Jefferson of Rochdale and younger brother of Sir Geoffrey Jefferson, he was educated at Manchester Grammar School and Manchester University, where he shared the Dumville surgical prize with J S B Stopford. Qualifying in 1911 with the conjoint diploma and t

"Glen", as he was known to all his friends, came to England from New Zealand in 1904 and entered Guy's hospital in 1905. He qualified in 1911 and became house surgeon to Arbuthnot Lane. He entered general practice at Watford in 1914 with Dr F H Berry, whose daughter Frida he married in 1915. He serv