Born at Penally, Pembrokeshire son of Charles Mathias (1817-88) MRCS 1839, Surgeon IMS, he was educated at Clifton College and King's College, Cambridge where he gained an entrance scholarship and was awarded a first class in both parts of the Natural Sciences Tripos, despite a long period of illnes

Born on 4 January 1889 at Selborne, Dudley, Worcestershire, the fourth child and third son of Arthur George Hooper, solicitor, and his wife Fanny, daughter of the Rev Joseph Shillito, of Lozells Chapel, Birmingham. He was educated at Mill Hill School 1903-07, and at Emmanuel College, Cambridge; wher