Raymond Alexander King was born on 5 January 1918 and his early education was in China where his father and grandfather were medical missionaries. He entered the London Hospital Medical College for clinical studies and qualified in 1939. Within a few months he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and

Mahapitiyage Peiris was born in Panadura, Ceylon, on 28 July 1898, the son of M A Peiris, a merchant, and was educated at St John's School, Panadura, and St Joseph's College, Colombo, before entering Ceylon Medical College qualifying in 1926.After graduation and junior hospital posts he was appointe