Howard Mitchell Jamison was born in London on 19 January, 1917, the son of James Jamison, a schoolmaster. He studied at the Sir Walter St John's School and the Regent Street Polytechnic before winning a scholarship to St Bartholomew's Hospital. He qualified MB BS in 1941 and, before joining the Army

Evan Griffiths was a consultant surgeon at Bridgend Hospitals, South Wales. He was born into West Wales farming stock on 13 December 1916. His father, Edgar Griffiths, owned and ran a grocery business in Llanelli. His mother was Mary Evans. Early schooling was at Llanelli Grammar School, where he di

William Harry Jayne Weston was born in Liverpool on 28 November 1903 and educated at Merchant Taylors' School, Crosby. After graduating in science in 1925 he spent nearly eight years as a schoolmaster at Pangbourne and Windsor. At the age of 30 he took up medicine and qualified at St George's Hospit

Robert Oliver Wheeler studied medicine at King's College, London and qualified MB BS in 1941. He passed the Conjoint Diploma in 1940 and the FRCS ten years later. He was surgical registrar to St Stephen's Hospital, London, and to Horton Hospital, Epsom, before becoming medical officer to Savernake H

Geoffrey Channing was born on 22 March 1916 at Bushey in London, the son of William Channing, an antiques valuer, and his wife Alice, née Stevens. He was educated at Latymer Upper School, West London, and Guy's Hospital Medical School, where he was awarded the Golding Bird Prize in obstetrics and

Hugh Guerrier was a consultant surgeon in Torbay. He was born in Muswell Hill, London, on 2 January 1913, the only son of Arthur Philip Guerrier, a solicitor, and his wife, Hilda Gwendolene née Davies, whose father was a general practitioner. Hugh was educated at Cambridge House School, Margate, and