Born at Canterbury on 23 December 1853, the second son of Major Thomas Manders, 6th Dragoon Guards, and his wife, née Hacking. He was educated at Marlborough College, at St Mary's Hospital, at the Beaujon Hospital in Paris, and in Brussels. He acted as house surgeon at the Kent and Canterbury Hospit

Charles Gordon Shaw was born in Melbourne on 9 January 1885 and was educated at Scotch College, Melbourne, and Melbourne University where he graduated MB BS in 1907, proceeding to the MD degree in 1910. Rowing was his favourite sport and he was in the winning eights both at school and also at Ormond