George Oliver Jelly was born on 26 April 1909 in Bury, Lancashire, the son of George Aubrey Jelly, an ophthalmologist, and Kathleen Mary Olive, the daughter of a papermaker. He was educated at Rugby, and read greats at Magdalen College, Oxford, but fell ill just before finals and took up medicine in

'Dan' Desmond was born in London on 18 August 1912, the second son of Dennis William Andrew Desmond, a pharmacist, and Violet Amy née More. He was educated at St Aloysius College, Highgate, and the London Hospital, where he qualified in 1934, and was house surgeon, receiving room officer, and clinic